All the best buses for going on the best London walks you've never heard about
The best bus for London's ramblers is definitely the 465, because I choose to assert any hyperbole as truth. It operates between Kingston and Dorking so spends most of its time in Surrey, indeed that's where I decree the best walks are, but it's still a London bus and what's more I am not wrong. Let's hit Box Hill.
The 465 sets off every half hour from wherever you choose to catch it, which is probably Kingston, and takes up to 50 minutes to fire into open country beyond Leatherhead. But what unique open country it is because this is the glorious Mole Valley, nestling amid the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that is the Surrey Hills. And what's more there are multiple stops to alight for the very best walk, so gird your finest boots and take your pick.
The best stop for Box Hill is Burford Bridge where the bikers cafe is, but don't divert there. Instead a footpath leads off alongside the bus stop and suddenly you're on an upward climb that's almost sheer, but what a view. Keep panting but don't forget to look behind you across the valley and you're quite high up now and the National Trust tea room isn't far. It's certain to be a day out you'll never forget.
Alternatively alight at Westhumble Street for the village of Westhumble which has a traditional pub so might be your very best choice. But better to get off at the stop called North Downs Way which unsurprisingly is on the actual North Downs Way because this is undoubtedly the best long distance path passing almost near London. If you have time you can walk all the way to Farnham or Dover, but more likely you'll end up inside the Denbies vineyard on a guided tour downing samples. But the best walk is definitely across the famous stepping stones at the foot of Box Hill before ascending hundreds of steps, after which you can spend all your day rambling across the downs before getting the London bus back to London.
The other best bus for going on a great walk is the 405 which links Croydon to Redhill. The best walk's plainly not in Croydon and also don't forget you have to get off before Redhill, ideally in Merstham where the North Downs Way crops up again. Expect bluebells and butterflies or maybe just chalk downland and amazing panoramas including Easyjet flights from Gatwick Airport. Best of all it's possible to walk from here to Box Hill and then catch the 465 and basically that's two best buses for the price of one.
But common sense says the best bus has to be the 403 which runs at regular intervals to Hamsey Green. This is the starting point for what's undeniably the best section of the London Loop which everyone agrees is section 5 to Coulsdon. This unique trail crosses Riddlesdown and climbs to Kenley, dips into Happy Valley and ends on the amazing ridge of Farthing Downs, indeed you could have caught the 405 to this end so maybe that really is the best bus after all.
And yet the best bus has to be the 246 out of Bromley because that reaches properly into Kent. Again it links to the North Downs Way at Westerham Heights, but the best day to ride the 246 is on a Sunday when the route inexplicably extends to Chartwell where Winston Churchill lived. From here if you can tear yourself away from another National Trust tearoom there are excellent walks to take deep into the Weald to several secret places like Emmetts Garden you never knew you never knew.
But if it's a great walk you want then take the 85 because Richmond Park is the only practical destination. This green oasis is readily accessible to all and offers umpteen hundred acres of unbridled rambling space, plus actual deer which is not something any other walk can guarantee. Several other London buses also skirt the park but none get closer than the 85, except possibly the 371 and technically the K3 counts too as does the 65 depending on which refreshment hub you want to end up nearest. As they say in Richmond come any way but come anyway.
The only other London bus that'll take you to the best walk is the R5, or the R10 if you insist on going anti-clockwise. This pair run through the outermost rural bits of Bromley so you can get off anywhere you like and the walk will undoubtedly be great, or at least I assume they'll be great because I'm up against a deadline and haven't had time to do any research. But one thing's for certain, all the best walks by London bus take place south of the Thames because there are no great walks in North London, let alone best ones. Take my advice and aim for the hills by bus, whichever best bus you choose, and rest assured that was absolutely all of them.
