Annual Events

Jan	Canary Wharf Light Festival
Feb	Snowdrops: #swc353 Knebworth Circular; #swc53 Overton to Whitchurch; #cw1.51 Henley to Pangbourne
Mar	National Lottery Open Week - free entry to gardens, Hampton Court etc. Wood anemones: #cw1.15: Leigh to Tunbridge Wells; #short43 Lesnes Abbey Woods; #cw2.20 (option b) Robertsbridge to Battle
Apr	Azaleas: #cw1.18 Sunningdale to Windsor - in Saville Gardens (Windsor): also Isabella Plantation (Richmond Park)
May	Bluebells : Late April-early May: #swc353: Knebworth to Hitchin; #cw2.5 (option ab) Tring to Berkhamsted via Dockey Wood and Flat Isley; #cw1.9 Shiplake to Henley via High Wood and Greys Court; #cw2.13 (option e) Guildford to Boxhill; #cw1.47: Ockley to Warnham.......and many more (see our Nature Blog) Early May: for late bluebells plus rhododendrons and azaleas: #cw1.42: Holmwood to Gomshall via Leith Hill Rhododendron Wood Kurume Azaleas in Isabella Plantation, Richmond Park: #SWC.261: Norbiton to Hammersmith Ashwell at Home - for open gardens - #SWC91 Baldock Circular - usually the 2nd Sunday in May - 10 May 2026 Cow Parsley:  #SWC.91: Baldock Circular ;  #cw1.8: Bures to Sudbury
Jun	Apple Blossom: #cw1.28: Chilham to Canterbury;  #SWC299 - Teynham to Faversham;  #cw1.36: Borough Green to Sevenoaks Buttercups: #cw1.8: Bures to Sudbury;  #SWC190 - Thame Circular;   #SWC.194 - Aylesbury Vale Parkway to Aylesbury Oxeye daisies: #cw1.10 Beaconsfield Circular; #SWC173 - Meopham Circular; #SWC196 - Wadhurst to Tunbridge Wells Leigh on Sea folk festival ~ late Jun Poppies: #cw2.22 Amberley to Arundel
Jul	Sandwich folk festival ~ 4 & 5 July Lavender: Late July - #Short.23 - Banstead to Woodmansterne; #cw1.36: Borough Green to Sevenoaks ; also in Letchworth Garden City
Aug	Pride Parade in Brighton: ~ 1st Sat in Aug Heather: #cw1.27 Milford to Haslemere
Sep	Heather - and berries, fruits and nuts. Start of fungi (mushrooms) in woods Heritage Open Days (free access to heritage sites incl National Trust) London Open City (free access to heritage sites in London)
Oct	Deer Rut - Bushy Park, Richmond Park Sussex Bonfires - Oct and Nov. Late October - early November: autumn leaf colour: #SWC.140 - Wendover Circular via the Lee and Swan Bottom; #cw1.45: Princes Risborough to Great Missenden; #cw1.47 Ockley to Warnham
Nov	Brokham Bonfire, Lewes Bonfire, many "smaller" ones in Sussex
Dec	Christmas Fair: #cw1.7 Garston to St Albans

For a more comprehensive list of SWC walks with flowers, particularly our bluebell walks, please see the Nature Pages / Where to Find Wild Flowers

Last Minute Changes / News

£15 Summer Special to Southend from 21 July to 20 Sep. £15 Adult Off-Peak return fares from any c2c station in the London Travelcard area. See https://www.c2c-online.co.uk/tickets-and-fares/off-peak-discounts/summer-special/ for details.

LNER Offer:  Book ahead and save 47% on average on LNER tickets to anywhere in England, Scotland and Wales. No booking fees.' https://www.lner.co.uk/

Future trips:  Crickhowell, Wales (4 walks) 24^th to 28^th September 2026; Dornie, Scotland (6 walks) 9^th to 16^th May 2027; Dartmouth, South Devon Coast (4 walks) 25^th to 28^th June 2027.

Wednesday walk - Shoreham figure of 8

#2026-09-02T10:46

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This walk consists of two loops around the attractive Kent village of Shoreham, nestling in the valley carved out of the North Downs by the River Darent. There is a good mix of woodland and open countryside with some fine views from the steep-sided hills overlooking the valley, interspersed with easier stretches along the valley floor.

Length: Main Walk: 20 km (12.4 miles). Alternative Walk: 15¼ km (9.4 miles). Shorter options detailed in the directions. 

I'm going to suggest we follow the Alternative Walk to facilitate group cohesion and allow time for collecting sloes but individuals or sub groups are free to do variations.

Toughness: 6 out of 10 for the main walk (4 for the Alternative Walk, 3 for the Short Walks).

Trains:  The 9.46 train from Blackfriars (Elephant & Castle 9.50 platform 4)gets you to Shoreham for 10:46 with lots of stops in south east London along the way. From Victoria you could take the 9.55 train to Bromley South (10.11) where you can pick up the Blackfriars train at 10.23. Or, from London Bridge take the 9.53 train  to Sevenoaks where you change for the 10.22 train to Shoreham arriving 10.32 

Return trains Shoreham run at xx:02 and xx:32 to Blackfriars. Change at Bromley South for Victoria trains. There are also trains at xx:15 and xx.32 to Sevenoaks where you can change for connections to London Bridge. Or, you could finish in Otford and get a train from there back to Victoria.

Lunch : There are lots of options for a pub lunch in Shoreham. Picnickers can find benches in the churchyard or along the river bank. Lunch could also be had in Otford.

Tea: There are options in Shoreham, Otford and Lullingstone.

For more detailed information click L=swc.289

Sunday Walk – Surrey heaths and the Mole valley

SWC Walk 305 – Oxshott to Cobham

Length: up to 15¼ km (9.5 miles), with shorter afternoon routes possible. Toughness: 2/10

09:57 Hampton Court train from Waterloo (Vauxhall 10:01, Clapham Jct 10:06, etc), changing at Surbiton (arr 10:27, dep 10:32) for the Guildford via Cobham train which should be waiting on the adjacent platform, arriving Oxshott at 10:42. [NB. This train starts from Wimbledon at 10:13 and for some reason then hangs around at Surbiton for 11 minutes.]

If you just miss the Hampton Court train the faster 10:07 Alton train should make the connection at Surbiton (arr 10:30), but don't hang about.

Trains back from Cobham are hourly at xx:10 and run through to Waterloo. Buy a return to Cobham & Stoke D'Abernon (its full name).

This walk was originally conceived as an opportunity to visit Painshill, which modestly describes itself as “England's most elegant 18^thC landscape garden”. I'd intended to post it two weeks later when the garden is one of the attractions of Heritage Open Day, but the Fat Controller has decreed rail replacement buses across swathes of south-west London on the 20th which means no free visit this year. You could of course still fork out the £15 entrance fee (it's not a National Trust property) but I'm assuming that most will simply want to enjoy an easy walk around Surrey's wooded heaths and the Mole valley.

The suggested lunch place in Cobham is The Bear (01932-967040) on River Hill, a Young's pub with a secluded back garden as well as a patio area at the front. There are other eateries along its High Street and a crescent-shaped patch of grass with a few benches opposite the pub for picnics.

If you don't break off to visit Painshill you might be in time for Cafè Barbera, an Italian coffee house in the parade of shops next to Cobham station (it closes at 4pm on Sundays). Stronger fare is available at The Old Plough, an attractive pub with a large beer garden which is a short walk away at the other end of Station Road.

This walk had to be completely redesigned after an influential walker grumbled about being offered a garden apple instead of cider for his mid-morning refreshment. The pub is now on the afternoon leg and comes before the offending garden, which should allow for all tastes to be accommodated. Anyway, please don't rely on an old version of the walk document and bring the current directions from the L=swc.305 page. #2026-09-06T10:45

Dartmouth 25 June 2027 to 28 June 2027

Dartmouth is on the south west coast of Devon.  Details of accomodation, travel and walks will be posted shortly, and updated as needed.  #2027-06-25T10:00

Scotland 2027: Back to Dornie!

Scotland 2027: Back to Dornie!

The SWC will be heading back to Dornie, Scotland in 2027! We have secured a combination of lodges and cottages from 9 May-16 May 2027. If you are interested in the trip, please contact goepfertkarenATyahoo.COM

#2027-05-09T09:00 #7days

The Jungle Book at the National Theatre

Join us for a fun-filled evening of music, adventure and jungle magic. After all,  nobody is too old to enjoy a classic.  It will be a perfect show to close our 2026 social calender. 

Directed by Indhu Rubasingham, the beloved tale of The Jungle Book is reimagined with innovative puppetry by two most celebrated puppetry designers Finn Caldwell and Nick Barnes.  This thrilling new adaptation brings the jungle roaring to life on the Olivier stage.

Ticket from £25.  To book your ticket,  please click here. 

Pre-show F&B will be posted closer to the time

We will set up a WhatsApp event group.  If you wish to be on it, please email your mobile number to swcsocialATgmailDOT.com

 

#2026-12-10T19:00

Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends at Young V&A

In Aardman’s 50th anniversary year, go behind the scenes of your favourite stop-motion animations and explore how Aardman’s iconic characters and worlds are brought to life. 

A joyful, educational, and highly tactile experience and a "must-see" expo that combines nostalgia with iconic sets, original models, and interactive, hands-on activities. 

Tickets £11 or £5.5 (Art Fund).  To book your ticket, please click here.  Book the 2:30pm slot. 

The current plan is to link this exhibition in conjunction with a Sunday walk and lunch nearby.    

A WhatsApp group will be set up for this event.  Please email your mobile number to swcsocialATgmailDOTcom if you wish to be on it. 

#2026-11-01T14:30

Crickhowell Trip - 4 Nights, 4 Walks (2 with bus journeys, 2 from/to Crickhowell)

A Thursday to Monday trip with 4 walks:

Notes:

-  Travel is by car or by train and bus: Paddington to Newport, change to Abergavenny, buses to Crickhowell (14 on Mon-Sat, 5 on Sun): Line X43 from the bottom of Station Road, Line 43 from the bus station.

-  note that the X43 now runs evening journeys, all the way to Bwlch, i.e. it is possible to travel to Crick on Thursday after work.

-  Train and bus details are based on the current schedule, which may be different in September.

 

Friday 25 September: 10.11 Bus Line 43 from Crickhowell Square (calls all stops in Llangattock), arrives Llangynidr, Village Hall at 10.26. Walk SWC Walk 332 Llangynidr to Bwlch or Circular: 21.9 km (13.6 mi) with 781/685m ascent/descent. 7/10 rating. With lots of options, shorter and longer. Picnic lunch.

Saturday 26 September: 09.26 Bus Line X43 from Crickhowell Square (does not stop in Llangattock), arrives Bwlch, All Saints at 09.36. Walk SWC Walk 308 Bwlch Circular via Mynydd Troed, then Llangorse Lake or Pen Tir: 21.6 km (13.4 mi) with 837/840m ascent/descent. 7/10 rating. With two principal options, and two shortcuts on the Llangorse Lake option. Picnic lunch on the rarely walked Pen Tir option, but a pub and tearoom in Cwmdu for ‘tea’.

Sunday 27 September: Meet at 10.00 at the Crickhowell Square bus stop. And start walking. Walk SWC Walk 370 Crickhowell Circular via Mynydd Llangatwg and Craig y Cilau: 18.9 km (11.7 mi) with 680m ascent/descent. 6/10 rating. Shorter and longer options: one extension, several shortcuts plus an opportunity for caving (for beginners).

Monday 28 September: Meet at 09.30 at the Crickhowell Square bus stop. And start walking. Walk SWC Walk 333 Crickhowell Circular via Table Mountain and the three Pens: 20.4 km (12.7 mi) with 973m ascent/descent. 8/10 rating. Feel free to walk this main walk version, or even the much harder 10/10 version, as some did last year on the Brecon Trip, but my intention is to walk the very different (and shorter) version which leads in a westerly loop from either Pen Cerrig-calch or Pen Allt-mawr (the latter route partly map-led) and down the lower part of the wooded Cwm Cumbeth (11.5 km/7.2 mi, 658m ascent; or 16.5 km/10.3 mi, 741m ascent) back to Crickhowell. [There is an even shorter version described.] This will enable me to check the old text, equip the currently map-led stretch with written directions, and still leave Crick relatively early for London.

#2026-09-24T18:00 #5days

Photography Exhibition - Between Light and Shadow by London Independent Photography (Ealing)

This event is posted on behalf of our resident photographer Robin.  

I'm pleased to be joining seventeen other photographers for our exhibition at St Mary's church as part of the Ealing BEAT Arts Trail.

Fellow SWC walkers are welcome to attend the private view on 3 September 7:00pm - 9:30pm, at St Mary's Church W5 5RH. 

Direction:  South Ealing tube or 65 bus from Ealing Broadway.

#2026-09-03T19:00 

BBC Prom: Berlin Philharmonic and Beethoven Violin Concerto

Our last Prom of this year is with Berlin Philharmonic, its chief conductor Kirill Petrenko, and Grammy Award-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich playing beloved Beethoven Violin Concerto and more...

To book your ticket: please click here.   Alternatively,  you can buy day promming ticket from 9:30am on the day, costs £8.    

The Prom starts at 7pm.  Meet at the steps of the Albert Memorial for picnic (weather permitting) from 5:30pm.  

There will be a WhatsApp group set up for this event.  Please email swcsocialATgmailDOTcom with your mobile number if you wish to be on it. 

Programme 

Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major 42’

Interval

Scriabin Symphony No. 3 in C minor, ‘The Divine Poem’ 50'

Augustin Hadelich violin

Berlin Philharmonic

Kirill Petrenko conductor

#2026-09-03T19:00

Bank Holiday Short Walk - Bermondsey Carnival (Rotherhithe, away from the river - in reverse to finish at the Carnival)

Bermondsey Carnival, what’s that then?  

It is a free, day-long community celebration held in Southwark Park, with a history stretching back over a hundred years in SE16. The event brings together two stages of live music and DJs spanning a wide mix of genres, a funfair, dedicated kids’ entertainment, free football activities run by the Community Trust of the local Football Club, independent food and drink traders, and local community stalls. 

https://www.bermondseycarnival.com/ 

 

[The Carnival had lost its grant funding from Southwark Council a few years back and went into a hiatus but after much local campaigning came back, using the stages and stalls left standing from the 2-day RALLY Music Festival held over the preceding days for free/a nominal sum.] 

 

Music runs across two areas: the main stage and the BSC x PEEK Tent, which brings an “underground” dance-music flavour to the afternoon with DJ sets running well into the evening. The 2026 line-up includes Lisa Loud, Meaka Monroe, Ten Tonne Ska, Carpet Head, The Ukullective, and headliner Artful Dodger, plus compère Philip Poleon and DJ Noel, alongside sets from Rafe, Ted White, Luckless, Sow, Abby T and Sound Source Radio DJs in the BSC x PEEK Tent. 

https://bermondsey.london/event/bermondsey-carnival-2026/

 

The Walk:

 

Length: 7.3 km 

Ascent: negligible 

Net Walking Time: up to 1 ¾ hours 

 

Start & Finish: Bermondsey Underground, meet at 14.00 hours (Jubilee Line, Zone 2). 

Dropout Points: Rotherhithe Overground, Canada Water Underground, Surrey Quays Overground or any number of bus stops. The whole route is in Zone 2.

 

The blurb for walking the route in the original direction:

“This varied route explores parks and waterways on the Rotherhithe peninsula rarely seen by occasional visitors, who tend to follow the Thames Path.

Start from Bermondsey tube near the boundary with Rotherhithe, following a meandering route through the well-kept Southwark Park, then cut across to Greenland Dock, one of the few remnants of the once ubiquitous ponds and water channels of the Surrey Commercial Docks, used mainly for timber and grain trading, before walking along the spine of the peninsula through the enchanting Russia Dock Woodland, an infilled dock with plenty of visible reminders of its past.

A short loop through the Stave Hill Ecology Park leads up to one the finest low viewpoints in town: Stave Hill, a 9-metre artificial mound with surround views to the Olympic Park, Canary Wharf, the City of London, Westminster and most high points in South East London.You then skirt around Surrey Water and follow the well-maintained Albion Channel (more remains of the former docks and quays) to Canada Water, currently one of London’s largest regeneration sites, before a final loop through the historic Rotherhithe village and – for a short stretch – along the Thames River, passing some famous pubs and ending back in Bermondsey.”

 

Eat/Drink: Many cafés and pubs en route and two pubs just past the end, check the webpage or the pdf for details.

 

For walk directions, map, photos, and gpx/kml files click here.

#2026-08-31T14:00 t=short.54

Sunday Walk: Theydon Bois to Epping

#2026-08-30T10:30 

15.5 km 10 miles 3/10

A pleasant rural walk, with plenty of shade, taking in nature reserves, a Roman road, an interesting old church All Saints, Theydon Garnon (do look inside), and a Railway Heritage Centre.   

Posted recently, but  you’re getting it again because the Theydon Oak are holding hold their annual Oakfest "Sausage and Cider" Festival (50 ciders, 10 ales) this weekend. Unfortunately, SWCs official cidernado will be unable to attend, but don’t let that stop you. You can always buy him one next time you see him. 

Transport 

Get the Central Line to Theydon Bois to arrive at 10.30. Use Journey planner to time your journey. 

Finish at Epping Station, also on the Central Line. Both stations zone 6. It is also possible to finish at North Weald and get a bus to Epping. Maybe even a heritage bus (there's a special bus event today).

Lunch

The recommended stop is the Dog House, (formerly the Moletrap) open from 12 tel: 01992 522093 Booking advised. Picknickers can stop at the nearby village pond. (There’s a bench). 

You also have the Kings Head in North Weald tel:01992 525001 and a café at the Railway Centre there

Tea

The Theydon Oak, innit.  

For a quieter end to the day, the other ending would take you past The Garnon Bushes pub +44 1992 560211, and, later, pubs and cafes in Epping High Street. 

Directions here t=swc.409

The Theydon Oak ending is the leftmost of the two GPS options.

One more thing:-  If you have an old print-out, note that at the decision point for this ending, after the motorway bridge, the route through the Garnon Bushes Reserve has been tweaked. (The original path is overgrown). You now continue ahead and take the second left, a well defined path at a fingerpost. (GPS and written directions updated).

Sunday walk - Chorleywood to Chesham

#2026-08-30T10:24

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The Chess Valley is one of the most beautiful and tranquil parts of the Chiltern Hills. The walk dips in and out of the valley, with a number of fine panoramic views

Length: Main walk 15.8km (9.8miles). Shorter options are outlined in the walk directions.

Toughness: 5 out of 10

Trains: take the 9.57 Chiltern Railways train from London Marylebone arriving Chorleywood 10.24.

Returning from Chesham, Metropolitan Line trains run at xx.15, 25,45 and 55) to London Marylebone.

Tickets : Chesham is in London Transport zone nine, Chalfont & Latimer in zone eight and Chorleywood in zone seven, so you can use Oyster or contactless to pay for your journey. Freedom Passes are also valid all the way to Chesham.

Lunch: The Red Lion ( 01923 282 722 ) or The Bedford Arms ( 01923 283 301 ) in Chenies are 6.4km (3.9 miles) into the main walk.

Tea: The Drawingroom , Frances Yard, Chesham (01494 791 691) is in a courtyard just off the pedestrianised part of Chesham high street (to the left, about 50 metres before the clock tower). It is open until 5pm on Sundays.

Otherwise, there is the usual choice of chain outlets. Cafe Nero, is open till 5.30pm daily, while Costa Coffee is open till 6pm daily.

More detailed information L=swc.81

Blackwater to Crowthorne or Wokingham

Length: 17.7km (10.9 miles) to Crowthorne or 25.5km (15.8 miles) to Wokingham

The stations on this walk are reachable from both Waterloo or Paddington. Paddington is a bit quicker, but Waterloo probably more convenient for many of you...

- From Waterloo catch the 9.30 train to Guildford, arriving 10.02, changing there for the 10.19 train to Blackwater, arriving 10.37. Please wait 9 minutes for the Paddington train to arrive...

From Clapham Junction get the 9.27 to Woking, arriving 9.46, to pick up the Guildford train at 9.55

- From Paddington catch the 9.50 train to Reading, arriving 10.13, changing there for the 10.24 train to Blackwater, arriving 10.46.

From Ealing Broadway your only option is the Liz Line departing 9.26 to Reading, arriving there at 10.12

Tickets: 

- From Paddington get a day return to Blackwater ("Any Permitted"). 

- From Waterloo get a day return to Crowthorne if you have absolutely decided to finish the walk there, or Wokingham otherwise. This can be a "via Guildford/Ascot" ticket if that is available, as that is cheaper than an "Any Permitted".

For walk directions, GPX and map click here. The walk's home page also outlines numerous other options for the walk, which I will let you read yourself...

After writing all those train details, I can understand why this walk does not get posted that often.... Its last outing was in 2022, barring a very poorly attended one in January 2025. Yet my memory from 2022 is that it made a pleasant enough day out. There is some woodland and also a fair number of water features, whose plant life may still be lush and green (and flowering) as a contrast to the wearisome brown of our fields at present (if this week's rain has not fixed that).

Lunch is 6 miles in in the village of Finchamstead. The Queen's Head got a good write-up last time: an alternative is the Greyhound. 

For tea or something stronger there is a craft beer/coffee shop called The Hive in Crowthorne. If you persist to Wokingham, you will find a pleasant town with lots of pubs and stuff.

Trains back (Gawd: here we go again...) from Crowthorne are at 12 past to Reading, where you change for Paddington (46 minutes journey time), or 38 past to Guildford, where you change for Waterloo (1 hour 14 minutes). 

From Wokingham there seem to be direct trains to Waterloo at 23 and 53 past, or 18, 27, 46 and 57 past to Reading, or 03 and 33 past to Guildford. Journey times roughly the same as from Crowthorne.

#2026-08-29T09:30 T=swc.83

Saturday Walk - Leagrave to Harlington

t=SWC.229 #2026-08-29T09:21

Length: 23km (14m)
Toughness: 4 / 10
Transport: Take the 9:21 train from London St Pancras to Leagrave, arriving 10:01. Return trains from Harlington at xx:02, xx:18, xx:32 and xx:48. Buy a day-return to Harlington.

This is a great walk, leaving Leagrave along the river Lea and then climbing up onto the Barton Hills. To make the walk spectacular, I recommend detouring around the Sharpenhoe Clappers.

Saturday Walk - Burgess Hill to Hassocks

Length: 25.8 km (16.0 mi)

Ascent/Descent: 422m 

Net Walking Time: 6 hours 

Toughness: 7 out of 10

Take the 09.16 Littlehampton train from Victoria (09.23 CJ, 09.34 EC), arrives Burgess Hill at 10.09 or 

Take the 09.15 Brighton train from London Bridge (09.29 EC), arrives Burgess Hill at 10.05. 

Return trains: xx.02 and xx.32 to Victoria and xx.08 and xx.38 to London Bridge (and beyond). 

Buy a Hassocks Return.

 

 “This walk takes in Sussex landmarks including three windmills, two golf courses, ponds, a water tower, picturesque villages and The Sussex Downs with panoramic views of surrounding countryside and the South coast. Initially following the railway track south towards Hassocks, the walk goes east through a local rural park area and climbs up to a distinctive water tower visible for miles around. Continuing on with constant views of the Downs to the south, passing stables, farms etc, it joins the Sussex Border Path, which divides east and west Sussex, and travels south towards Ditchling (the recommended lunch stop for the short walk, and a possible early lunch stop for the main walk). Later, the path steeply ascends near Ditchling Beacon. After a descent for lunch at the Plough at Pyecombe, there is a gentler climb up Wolstonbury Hill. There follows a descent to Hurstpierpoint (and its college); the route almost coming full circle -just skirting Burgess Hill on the way to Hassocks.”

 

Short Walk – nine options! Check the webpage or the pdf for details.

Lunch: plenty of options; check the webpage or the pdf for details. 

Tea: a pub and a café; check the webpage or the pdf for details.

 

For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here.

#2026-08-29T09:16 t=swc.108

Frida - The Making of an Icon or other paid or free exhibitions at Tate Modern

A nice way to celebrate the August Bank Holiday for those staying put.  

Discover the extraordinary story of how Frida Kahlo became one of the most influential artists of all time, a cultural phenomenon, and an internationally recognised commercial icon. 

The exhibition showcases over 30 of Kahlo’s most iconic works that introduce her ‘many selves’ – the dedicated wife, the intellectual, the modern artist, and the political activist. Alongside treasured garments, jewellery, photographs and memorabilia, there are over 200 works by her contemporaries and the artists she inspired from later generations, celebrating her lasting impact on those who continue to reimagine and reclaim her remarkable story. 

Ticket £25,  Art Pass £12.5, Tate member Free.  Book 5:30pm slot.   

Exhibition Meeting Place:   at the entrance to the exhibition or inside if you are here early.   

Other Paid Exhibitions:  

(1) Tracy Emin - A Second Life, Ticket £22, Art Pass £11, Tate Member free

(2)  Julia Le Parc - Light, Colour, Action,  Ticket £15, Art Pass £7.5, Tate Member free

Other free exhibitions throughout the museum. 

Post Exhibition F&B:  We continue with our immersive Mexican cultural experience with a visit to the Mexican restaurant Wahaca Southbank, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX.

A table for 6 has been booked for 19:30. All seats have been taken now.  But feel free to contact the restaurant to arrange for another booking. 

A WhatsApp group will be set up for this event.  if you wish to be on it,  please email your mobile number to swcsocialATgmailDOTcom. 

#2026-08-28T17:30 

Wednesday Walk - Box Hill Circular via Betchworth

Box Hill Circular via Betchworth

Length: Length: 16¾ km (10.4 miles). Toughness: 5/10

10.23 Dorking train from London Waterloo (Clapham Junction 10.32) arriving at Box Hill 11.11

Buy a return to Box Hill & Westhumble or Dorking (same price). If you want the option to do one of the alternative endings (see the walk document for details), get a return to Dorking.

Return trains from Boxhill are at xx:35 to Waterloo & xx:46 to Victoria (from Dorking at xx.32 to Waterloo, xx.17 and xx.43 to Victoria

You may recognise the villages of Betchworth and Brockham from another walk, but this walk offers some novelty: the inside of a large chalk quarry (and maybe a pair of peregrine falcons), fine views across parkland towards the North Downs and there's an opportunity to visit the ruins of Betchworth Castle (detour at point 41 in the directions).

The Red Lion in Betchworth (01737-843336) has been the usual choice of past walkers. Their website says they accept walk-ins with no booking. However, just fifteen minutes further on the walk route also passes the Dolphin (01737-842288) a CAMRA pub which serves freshlt made meals (booking ahead is advised).

Not long after Betchworth, you arrive in Brockham where there are further options. You may want to pop in to the garden of The Royal Oak pub (accessible via the side without going through the pub) to see the family of meerkats. or stop at the Village Hall which houses a cafe and a Real Ale pub The Taphouse.

For end of walk refreshment, there is the Stepping Stones pub near Box Hill station

For full details and to download your copy of the directions see the L=swc.396 page. #2026-08-26T10:23

Evening Walk: Tantalizing Northern Heights of Totteridge (short circular)

Evening Walk: Tantalizing Northern Heights of Totteridge (short circular) 

Distance: Approximately 5 miles or 9 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty: 2 out of 10

Train: Meet 18:30 outside the Totteridge & Whetstone Northern Line Underground Station (High Barnet Branch)

This walk explores the Northern Heights, an area of greenbelt on the northern fringes of London. It passes through woods and meadows and has a surprisingly rural feel for being on the outskirts of London. More information about the route can be found here. We will adjust the route to create a walk of about 4-5 miles or so…..

Post walk refreshies can had at the Orange Tree pub or various other establishments in Totteridge.

#2026-08-25T18:30
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