13¼ km (8.2 miles). Difficulty 3/10
A shorter walk of 7¼ km (4.5 miles) omits Dulwich.
Earlier plans to post this walk were stymied by a massive restoration project in Crystal Palace Park, but that’s finally over. The fancy terraces have been spruced up and the ageing dinosaurs have had a makeover. Time to see what they've done.
Your day starts near a small museum, supposedly open 10-4, but not always, where, if your luck's in, you can learn the history of the Crystal Palace. Then through the newly restored Italian Terrace and down to the famous dinosaurs – modelled as Victorians saw them. All good as new, with bits stuck back on. The walk continues through Sydenham Hill Wood and Dulwich Wood to Dulwich, where you could visit Dulwich Picture Gallery with its collection of old masters (except you’re on a walk, remember).
Near the end of the walk, you pass the Horniman Museum with its unusual collections (open to 5.30pm, free admission). Unfortunately, the overstuffed walrus (an exhibit, not one of the staff) is in storage till 2027, along with the rest of the Natural History gallery, but there’s other stuff, right?
Trains: Get to Crystal Palace Station for 11:00 a.m.
Your best bet is probably the 10:28 from London Bridge (destination Victoria) arriving Crystal Palace at 10:52. Or the 10:20 from Victoria (Clapham Jct 10:28) (destination London Bridge) arriving Crystal Palace at 10:50.
Both stations are also served by the Windrush Line, starting from Highbury & Islington. The 10:12 from there arrives Crystal Palace 10:55.
Returning, there are frequent Windrush trains from Forest Hill towards Highbury and Islington as well as proper trains to London Bridge or Victoria.
Crystal Palace is in in TfL Zones 3/4, and Forest Hill in Zone 3.
Lunch:
On the Main Walk, the suggested lunchtime pub is the Crown and Greyhound (020-8299 4976) at 73 Dulwich Village, after 8 km.
An earlier option (and the only convenient pub on the shorter walk) is the Wood House (020-8693 5666) at 39 Sydenham Hill Road.
Tea
There is a good café at the Horniman Museum, plus, as you approach Forest Hill station, the Teapot, 56 London Road, open to 4.30 Sun.
The Signal, is a pub near the station,
Directions: here T=swc.137
If, heaven forfend, you should tire of our company, the walk can be curtailed at various points with directions to nearby stations. For a shorter walk, cut out the loop through Dulwich.
1 comment:
n=6 and guess what. The little museum WAS open . So that was good.
The day was w=mostly_cloudy-warm-and-muggy
After learning stuff, we continued down across the terraces, all newly landscaped, and returfed but, sadly, looking more like the Sahara in the current drought
The dinosaurs were impressive, smartened up and colourful. Everyone went “Ooh!”
We stayed together as far as the Wood House where 3 went in for drinks, 1 went for the nearest station, and 2 pressed ahead.
After drinkies, the 3 continued through the woods and opted for the shorter version, having a good look round Horniman Gardens, including the animal bit on top.
Then into the big museum, where we looked at random stuff and a wildlife photography exhibition.
We lost 1 in here. Probably in storage with the walrus by now.
The remaining 2 went in the Signal. Then home.
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