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Look, we all know that London is one of the best cities on the planet. From legendary music venues and charming afternoon teas to cool neighbourhoods, the capital really does have something for everyone. But sometimes, the noise, traffic and sheer chaos can get a bit much – and the only cure is a lungful of crisp countryside air.
Luckily, Londoners are also spoiled in that department: in under an hour, you can swap the smog for sweeping fields, riverbanks and storybook villages. If you’re up for a walk this weekend, here’s just the thing.
The Goring Gap and the Thames Path recently nabbed the number one spot on Time Out’s top 10 scenic walks near London. Don’t let the name put you off: Goring is far from boring. The quaint Oxfordshire village is the perfect launchpad for a five-mile autumnal stroll along one of the prettiest stretches of the Thames. It’s where the river squeezes between the Berkshire Downs and tree-blanketed Chilterns, with wildflower meadows, woods and the Hartslock Nature Reserve (home to red kites and rare orchids) along the way.
Your route winds up in Pangbourne, an equally dreamy Berkshire village. And why not make it a full-day trip? Here you can’t go much wrong with flopping into a chair at The Swan, a riverside pub dating back to the 17th century pub. Expect seasonal dishes like baked camembert drizzled with hot honey, a hefty sirloin steak sandwich or a bowl of crab linguine. Perfect post-hike fuel.
Getting there is easy: trains run from Paddington to Goring & Streatley in as little as 40 minutes, and from Pangbourne back to Paddington in about the same. Prefer four wheels? Driving takes around an hour and a half. Either way, it’s one of the quickest and most idyllic countryside walks – and escape – you’ll find from the capital.
The top scenic walks near London, according to Time Out.
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