The weather in London has been lovely lately (apart from the brief snow showers we’ve had) so what better way to enjoy the bank holiday than going for a walk?
And we have just the right ticket. The River Wandle meanders through the boroughs of South London. Following the river is the 20km Wandle Trail, perfect for a long spring stroll.
It rises in Croydon and flows through Sutton and Merton before joining the Thames at Wandsworth. There you can watch the seasons change as the water flows by.
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The river meanders through South London
(Image: Charlie Jones)
The icing on the cake of this great day trip is that you can find a pub for refreshments every few kilometers. As well as the booze there are some interesting things to see such as the Merton Abbey Mills which has an open air market every weekend.
One of the few surviving water wheels that used to line the river can also be seen there. Due to its industrial use, the river was once considered one of the dirtiest in the city.
The water wheel at Merton Abbey Mills
(Image: Charlie Jones)
Today, brown trout have returned and other fish are thriving thanks to the hard work of people wanting to improve the environment. Deen City Farm is also worth a visit. It’s a working community farm with a good variety of animals including alpacas.
One of the residents of Deen City Farm
(Image: Charlie Jones)
Admission is free, but the farm relies on donations. So if you enjoy it, give what you can. The trail is easy to get to as it starts at East Croydon station and ends near Wandsworth Town station.
On the way she passes Earlsfield and Haydons Road railway stations, as well as Colliers Wood and Morden underground stations. That said, if you just want to walk a short distance, that’s entirely doable.
The Wandle is a corner of London often overlooked by walkers, but with a rich heritage, beautiful countryside and good pubs. You would be a fool if you missed it.
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