Skip to content

Backpacking London

Explore backpacking groups and meet fellow adventurers

Haven Hill & Norman door - 13 miles

Haven Hill & Norman door - 13 miles

Sat, Sep 12, 8:45 AM
From FREE Outdoor Trips From London
4.8

What we call a stone was "stan" in Old English. A lesser known Stansted is nestled among hills of the North Downs was a place of stones. This walk offers green fields, woods, country lanes and slopes. Along the way passing impressive work of an early 12th-C blacksmith who may have understood Norman French Outward Travel: Take the train departing 10.10 AM from London Victoria to LONGFIELD. Beforehand from 9.45 AM the organizer will be easy to spot next to the WH Smith in the centre of the station. Buy an off peak day return to LONGFIELD - £11.25 with a Network card or Groupsave. Walk start: 10:40 AM from Longfield rail station. Bring a packed lunch. Afternoon pub stop. Circular walk. *How to join?* * The walk is entirely free of charge; * You only arrange for your own travel and pub expenses; * Understand our terms and conditions below (the "IMPORTANT" part); * Understand how to stay safe outdoors, as you will be responsible for yourself. See our quick safety tips: http://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/ *What to bring* * Plenty of water, 1-2 litres recommended * Enough snacks and packed lunch to keep you energized along the walk * Extra snacks and an extra packed lunch just in case * Rainproof (ideally waterproof) clothing, sturdy shoes/boots you don't mind getting muddy * Spare socks * Walking poles and/or an umbrella :-) * Yourself... * ...and your camera! * Cash for train ticket * Cash for pub at the end of the walk? Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section! IMPORTANT Please bear in mind this is a free of charge, self-guided trip with a hobby group. It is not organized by a business nor any entity with commercial purposes. Any trip details, travel advice, route planning, instructions and other content in our group merely represent our shared personal knowledge, research and suggestions as outdoor enthusiasts. As this is no business, there is no "product", "service" or "package" and also no "tour guide", "operator" or "walk leader". Each participant is responsible for their own safety. Even if some of us are very experienced walking outdoors, nobody assumes responsibility for any kind of injury, damage or loss that may happen. Despite this, we take extreme precautions and all trips we plan are very safe, fun, highly educational and popular. Our experienced members volunteer their time and effort to shape a pleasant and quality adventure for everyone :-) By participating you acknowledge and agree with this disclaimer. Here are our tips on staying safe during outdoor trips: http://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/ TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION, INSURANCE Although we provide detailed suggestions, each participant is expected to arrange their own travel - this gives everyone the freedom and choice. Anyone interested in travel or outdoor insurance should also arrange this on their own. As mentioned above we always take extreme precautions, but some people may still feel safer if covered. As most of our trips are confirmed or postponed very close to the event date - heavily depending on the weather forecasts - we advise not to buy this until the last minute. People getting tickets from the same station are encouraged to meet early on the day to benefit from discounts such as GroupSave.

  • Photo of the user
  • Photo of the user
  • Photo of the user
70 attendees
Women's Solo Travel Social

Women's Solo Travel Social

Tue, Sep 22, 5:00 PM
From Solo Travel Social
4.8

**Join us for an evening of Women's Solo Travel Social!** Whether you’ve backpacked across Asia, taken solo city breaks around Europe, or are just planning your first trip, come meet like-minded people who enjoy exploring the world on their own terms! Expect good conversation, meeting fellow travel lovers, community, swapping stories, destination inspiration, travel tips, and sharing recommendations. For both newcomers and experienced solo travellers alike! Please feel free to bring friends! Also follow @Trusttrip.travel on Insta for more updates, and to continue sharing travel stories! Location to be confirmed, but it will be central London, in the Soho area. Near to Tottenham Court Road, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus.

  • Photo of the user
  • Photo of the user
  • Photo of the user
38 attendees
COASTAL TRAILS OF THE CINQUE TERRE - ITALY

COASTAL TRAILS OF THE CINQUE TERRE - ITALY

Sat, Sep 12, 3:00 PM
From BACKABUSH XPLORERS - Hiking & Outdoor Adventure Meetup Group
4.9

**Join Backabush for a 4 night stay hiking the ancient coastal paths of this UNESCO site and National Park on the Italian Riviera.** These are the picturesque villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore that make up the Cinque Terre National Park. The area could hardly be more visually striking, the trails are filled with amazing views across terraced vineyards and colourful coves. Group Size - 16. Nights - 4. Accommodation - Guest House, twin share rooms. Cost - £449 **DIFFICULTY:** This trip is suitable for everyone with reasonable fitness, the hikes are moderate in difficulty up to around 9 miles each day with a lunch stop at one of the famous villages for some focaccia before we continue along the coast to the next village to finish the hike with a limoncello spritz in the afternoon. Lovely! Trains link our accommodation in La Spezia to all of the villages in the National Park and it is by far the easy way to get around in Cinque Terre. As there is a train station in every village along the trail, our hikes can easily be joined or left in the middle of the day, so the itinerary is completely flexible for people to take a morning enjoying cafe culture or an afternoon wandering the narrow streets. **ACCOMMODATION:** We will be staying in a modern guest house, conveniently located in the neighbouring coastal town of La Spezia. It has all the expected facilities like en-suite bathrooms and air-conditioned rooms. La Spezia is larger than the villages of Cinque Terre but still easy going with a great choice of bars and restaurants for evenings of pesto and local seafood. Our guest house is near the railway station and we will ride between 7 and 25 minutes to and from our hikes each day. **WHAT IS INCLUDED:** * Guest house accommodation in twin share rooms * Full itinerary of guided hikes * Backabush trip leader (qualified Mountain Leader) * Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 2018 **WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:** * Flights (see below) * Airport transfers (we will take the local train) * Trains in Cinque Terre * Blue trail entrance fee * Meals * Travel insurance **RECOMMENDED FLIGHTS:** There are daily flights to Pisa from London, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester. Trains run from Pisa to La Spezia every 30 mins and can be booking online with Trainline, Omio or Trenitalia. It will be easy to meet us at the accommodation anytime on Saturday 12th September, check in is from 4pm. You can walk from the station to the hotel in just a few minutes. On the 16th of September we will need to check out of our hotel at 11am before we head home. Please feel free to book your return flight for any time on the 16th September. **TRANSFERS:** The train journey between Pisa Airport and La Spezia is roughly 1hr 30 and approx £25 return. Service specific tickets can be purchased online but the regional trains do not sell out and offer no advanced discount so we recommend purchasing your ticket on arrival from the ticket desk at Pisa Airport, this allows for any flight delays. **HOW TO BOOK:** To confirm your place on this trip please send payment with online banking, using **CINQUETERRE** as the payment reference. **Your RSVP is not enough to reserve a space.** The account details are: Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS Sort Code: 090127 Account Number: 22440622 The following "terms and conditions" apply to all trip reservations: [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ngc5A61k76qb6HGMeTK96AVaXn0565yPS9p42IPzIy8/](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ngc5A61k76qb6HGMeTK96AVaXn0565yPS9p42IPzIy8/edit?usp=sharing) Please email [nathancapay@googlemail.com](http://nathancapay@googlemail.com/) when you send payment so that we can confirm everything with you. CIAO! **IMPORTANT NOTE:** We consider safety to be our number one priority and while we never take unnecessary risks, we do recognise that any outdoor activity involves a danger of personal injury or death. Remember that you should be aware of and accept these risks as you are responsible for your own safety and you should not undertake anything beyond your abilities. It is also your responsibility to be correctly equipped for the weather and activity you have chosen to participate in.

  • Photo of the user
  • Photo of the user
  • Photo of the user
16 attendees
HIKE 18km 🦌 Knole Deer Park, Medieval Manor & the Kent Downs

HIKE 18km 🦌 Knole Deer Park, Medieval Manor & the Kent Downs

Sun, Sep 13, 7:40 AM
From Outdooraholics London Hiking & Adventure Travel 25 to 49ish
4.8

📏 **Key Info:** • Distance: 11 miles (18km) • Grading: [Intermediate](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/HikeGradings.pdf) • Ascent: 420m • Hiking time: 4.5 to 5 hours • Cost: £31 (includes guided hike + return train) • Refunds: Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. If you follow our [[Resale Process](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/FAQ.pdf)] and your place is rebooked, we’ll issue a refund. • Toilet breaks: On the train, at the lunch stop, and at the end pub 📍 **Meeting Point** • Location: Charing Cross station. Meet in front of the ticket office - [MAP](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/StationPhotos/CharingCross.jpg) • Time: Meet 8:40am, leave 9am for the 9:15am train • Return: 5:21pm arrival back in London (you’re committed until then) 🌟 **Highlights** • Explore the magnificent 1,000-acre **Knole Deer Park**, home to over 350 wild deer roaming freely • Explore the 1,000 acre **Knole Deer Park,** home to over 350 wild deer roaming freely • See **Knole House**, one of England’s largest and grandest country houses with 365 rooms, 52 staircases and 7 courtyards • Hike through beautiful rolling countryside along the **Greensand Way** in the **Kent Downs** • Pass by **Ightham Mote**, one of Britain's finest surviving medieval moated manor houses from 1321 • Discover landscapes that have remained remarkably unchanged since **Tudor times** 🥾 **Hike Description** Step back into the England of kings, knights and grand country estates. Our adventure begins on the beautiful **Greensand Way** before entering the breathtaking **1,000 acre Knole Estate**, one of England's finest historic landscapes. This remarkable **Tudor deer park** has remained largely unchanged for centuries and is home to **over 350 wild fallow and sika deer** that roam freely beneath magnificent ancient oak trees. **Deer sightings are common**. At the heart of the estate stands the extraordinary **Knole House**. Built in **1486** and later owned by **Henry VIII**, it is one of the largest houses in England, boasting an astonishing **365 rooms, 52 staircases and seven courtyards**. Few places combine such architectural grandeur with such an unspoilt natural setting. Leaving Knole behind, we continue across the **rolling Kent Downs**, following peaceful countryside trails through woodland, open fields and quiet valleys towards **Ightham Mote**. Surrounded by its picturesque moat, this beautifully preserved **700-year-old medieval manor** is widely regarded as one of Britain's finest historic houses. Historian David Starkey described it as *"one of the most beautiful and interesting of English country houses."* Throughout the day we'll enjoy **classic Kent countryside**, peaceful walking and spectacular historic landscapes that feel wonderfully untouched by modern life. This is a hike for anyone who enjoys **wildlife, magnificent historic estates, beautiful countryside** and the timeless character of rural England. 🧭 **Guide:** • Leader: [GRAHAM](https://www.outdooraholics.co.uk/MeetTheOutdooraholics.pdf) • Contact (hike day only): 07796 098487 🍽️ **Food:** • Bring a packed lunch • Pub visit after the hike (drinks optional) 🎒**What to Bring** • Hiking boots/shoes • Water (2 litres minimum) • Packed lunch • Waterproofs (jacket and trousers) • Hat and gloves if cold • Train tickets are arranged – just meet us at the meeting point ⚠️ **Safety** Your guide is a trained hike leader and Outdoor Activity First Aider ❓ **Want to Know More?** • [New to Our Trips?](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/new_to_our_day_hikes.pdf) (perfect for first-timers, answers “what to expect”) • [About Us](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/about_us.pdf) (who Outdooraholics are, credibility, history) • [FAQs](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/FAQ.pdf) (covers common queries) 📲 **Explore More &** **Stay Connected** [Day hikes list](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/hikesbygrade.pdf) 👣 [Calendar - All trips](https://www.meetup.com/outdooraholics/events/calendar/) 📖 [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/outdooraholics/) 📸 [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/Outdooraholics) & [Photos group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/Outdooraholics) 📄 **Terms and Conditions** By signing up or attending you agree to our [Terms and Conditions](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/TermsConditionsOutdooraholicsHikingUK.pdf) © Outdooraholics Hiking UK Ltd 2026 E & OE

  • Photo of the user
  • Photo of the user
  • Photo of the user
32 attendees
LGBTQ+ Solo Travel Social

LGBTQ+ Solo Travel Social

Tue, Sep 15, 5:00 PM
From Solo Travel Social
4.8

**Join us for an evening of Queer Solo Travel Chat!** Are you LGBTQIA+ and love travelling? Whether you've backpacked across Asia, taken solo city breaks around Europe, or you're just planning your first solo trip, come meet other queer people who love exploring the world! This is a relaxed, social evening to meet, chat and share travel stories. As queer travellers, we sometimes have to think a little differently about where we go on holiday; taking extra precautions, researching destinations and choosing places where we feel safer and more comfortable being ourselves. It'll be a chance to share: Favourite destinations (and places we'd never visit again!) Where we've felt safe, welcome and comfortable as queer travellers. Travel tips, recommendations and destination inspiration. Coming alone? Most people will be, so don't worry about turning up by yourself. Want to bring a friend? Also completely welcome to! Whether you're a seasoned solo traveller or have never travelled alone before, you're very welcome. **Central London**\- exact venue will be confirmed depending on numbers\. It'll be a queer\-friendly social space\. I will send you an update nearer the time\! Also follow **@Trusttrip.travel** on Instagram for more updates and to continue sharing travel stories!

  • Photo of the user
  • Photo of the user
  • Photo of the user
5 attendees
Solo Travel Social

Solo Travel Social

Thu, Sep 17, 5:00 PM
From Solo Travel Social
4.8

**Solo Travel Social.** Whether you’ve backpacked across Asia, taken solo city breaks around Europe, or are just planning your first independent trip, everyone is welcome! It’s a chance to chat about places you’ve been (or want to go), swap travel stories, share tips and recommendations, and hopefully meet some new people along the way. If solo travel is your thing, or you’re thinking about giving it a try, you’ll fit right in! Please feel free to bring friends! Location to be confirmed (it depends on the size of our group as we're **growing!**). It will be in Central London and I will update the event nearer the time. Also follow @Trusttrip.travel on Insta for more updates, and to continue sharing travel stories! [A place to share and discover real experiences, reviews and recommendations from our community.](https://www.instagram.com/trusttrip.travel)

  • Photo of the user
  • Photo of the user
  • Photo of the user
20 attendees
430kMonthly events
calendar icon
60mMembers
people1 icon
4.5App store rating
appStore icon
200kGroups
people2 icon

Frequently asked questions

Meetup is a platform where you can find and join groups that share your interests. It's a great way to attend events, meet people, and engage in activities you love.

Simply search for hiking or backpacking groups in the London area on Meetup. You'll find a variety of events organized by local groups that you can join.

Joining groups on Meetup is typically free, but some events may require a nominal fee. Check each event's page for specific information.

Yes, you can join multiple groups that spark your interest. This allows you to participate in a wider array of events and meet diverse hikers.

To RSVP for a Meetup event, find the event on the group's page and use the RSVP button to confirm your attendance. This ensures organizers know how many people to expect.

Once you've joined a group, you can propose your own events. Engage with the group organizers and share your backpacking ideas.

Events are organized by group hosts or volunteers, not Meetup directly. This allows for a wide range of activities created by passionate individuals.

Frequency varies by group. Some organize weekly hikes, while others might plan less frequently. Checking the group's calendar can provide clarity.

Read event descriptions carefully and check past reviews. Participating actively in group discussions also helps set realistic expectations.

While Meetup houses countless groups, availability depends on local organizers. Some areas may offer limited options, reliant on community activity.

Most are, given the nature of backpacking, but occasional planning meetings might be indoors. Check each event summary for details.

Meetup focuses on group activities rather than one-on-one connections. To maximize meeting new partners, engage in group events frequently.

While many events occur within London's boundaries, some may explore nearby trails. Details are provided on each event's page.

By joining backpacking events, you interact with like-minded individuals. These shared experiences foster connections and friendships.

Quality varies as events are user-organized. Review event details and past attendee feedback for insight into the organization.