What we’re about
Welcome to Escape London City Explorers a walking and social group aiming at doing a range of guided walks and social trips to cities outside of London from London and guided walks and hikes within London.
The idea is to do a short country hike or city urban walk exploring cities or towns fairly close to London such as Oxford, Brighton, Portsmouth or Stratford-upon-Avon.
Transport will be either by train or coach, the group is twined with two other groups London Explorers (London walks & hikes) and Chiltern Explorers (countryside hikes within the Chilterns and further afield).
We are enthusiastic about photography and encourage photographs walking at a leisurely pace but also sometimes with harder faster and longer walks.
IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT WORLD HEALTH CRISIS I AM HOSTING SOME LIVE VIDEO EVENTS ON LONDON EXPLORERS & CHILTERN EXPLORERS MEETUP GROUPS.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Godalming, Compton, Art Nouveau Chapel/River Wey – Short Afternoon Country HikeLondon Waterloo station, SE1 8SW£7.00
Walk length 9.5miles/15km approx. Circular.
A varied hike across fields and woodland and starting from the small market town of Godalming towards the village of Compton where we can stop for a short coffee break at the Watts Gallery the return section is via the River Wey close to Farncombe.
The Watts gallery was founded in 1904 as the only gallery in the UK devoted to a single artist George Frederic Watts. We may be able to visit the fantastic Watts memorial chapel full of Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau influences.
THIS IS A SHORT HIKE WITH FLAT SECTIONS AND SOME HILL CLIMBS.
As this is a short walk we will just have a short snack stop probably at the Watts Gallery. The walk should finish around 5.00pm, however the time may be slightly earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace.
Transport & meeting
Train from London: Meet outside the main WHSmith next to the rail information point and Pret A Manager on the main concourse at Waterloo Station from 12.15pm (see photo below) to get the 12.45pm train that gets to Godalming for 13.34pm for the hike to start. We need time to get tickets/group saves so please be prompt (3-9 people with a group save).
You can get your own tickets or drive to Godalming, ticket discounts available with a network railcard or groupsave. Train approx. £20.80 return but could be less with a groupsave or network railcard discount.
Meet outside Godalming Station for the hike to start at 13.35pm after the train from London arrives.Walk Cost: £7 cash on the day organizer fee. For paypal it is 'colin45@hotmail.co.uk' Please send as friends and family to avoid charges. For bank transfer message organizer.
Please make a note of the organizers numbers - Colin 07709305681.
Walking Safety
Walking is a great way to keep fit and generally very safe; however it does contain an element of risk. Before going on any of these walks you need to be reasonably fit and be prepared to be responsible for your own safety. You should wear appropriate clothing such as proper walking shoes, warm and wet weather clothing and carry sufficient food and water. Please see our Terms and Conditions (https://www.meetup.com/Escape-London-City-Explorers/pages/23195445/Terms_and_Conditions/)
COULD EVERYONE PLEASE AVOID COMMENTS BELOW THAT ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO THE EVENT AS THIS GENERATES SPAM, JUST CHANGE YOUR RSVP IF YOU CAN'T GO. YOU CAN MESSAGE ME. MANY THANKS.
- St Albans, the Ver & Colne Valley & Ye Olde Fighting Cocks/Afternoon HikeLondon Euston, London£7.00
Walk length 9miles/15.5km approx. Linear
A picturesque linear hike from Garston to the historic town of St Albans along the Rivers Ver and Colne.
The Ver has a rich and varied history. There is evidence of human occupation in the valley as far back as 3000BC. The Romans founded an important city, Verulamium on the banks of the river close to the site of modern day St. Albans.
St Albans has some of the best old pubs in England. We can visit Ye Olde Fighting Cocks at the end which was once recognized as the oldest pub in England and also an old barn dating from the 17th century that is now a very classy pub..
THIS HIKE IS LARGELY FLAT.
Meeting and Transport
We are meeting outside Garston rail station for the hike to start at 12.50pm after the train from London arrives.
Train from London: The 12.23pm from Euston gets to Garston railway station at 12.50pm return ticket to St Albans Abbey with a change at Watford Junction should be about £11 with a group save or network railcard discount.
Meet outside Euston station at 11.50am to give us time to get tickets, close to the ticket office (see photo below).
If driving you will need to get a single train ticket either from Garston or St Albans for either the start or end of the walk as this is a linear hike to collect your car. Please check for parking restrictions and leave enough time to park. Garston station has side roads that should be free on a Saturday.
Walk Cost: £7 cash on the day organizer fee (the host is a qualified London guide). For paypal it is 'colin45@hotmail.co.uk' Please send as friends and family to avoid charges. For bank transfer message organizer.
Lunch and Finish
Please bring a late snack lunch and water for the hike. The walk will finish at about 4.30pm, however the time may be earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace.
Please make a note of the organizers numbers - Colin 07709305681.
Walking Safety
Walking is a great way to keep fit and generally very safe; however it does contain an element of risk. Before going on any of these walks you need to be reasonably fit and be prepared to be responsible for your own safety. You should wear appropriate clothing such as proper walking shoes, warm and wet weather clothing and carry sufficient food and water. Please see our Terms and Conditions (https://www.meetup.com/Escape-London-City-Explorers/pages/23195445/Terms_and_Conditions/)
COULD EVERYONE PLEASE AVOID COMMENTS BELOW THAT ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO THE EVENT AS THIS GENERATES SPAM, JUST CHANGE YOUR RSVP IF YOU CAN'T GO. YOU CAN MESSAGE ME. MANY THANKS.
