Fancy a day trip from London this bank holiday Monday? This gorgeous location is perfect if you’d like a quick escape from the city – and there’s some gorgeous views too
London is home to some of the most incredible views of skylines. But if you fancy a beautiful walk outside of the city with epic views and the best photo spots, we have just the place for you.
Sometimes escaping our hometown for a few hours can be really good for the soul and this destination could offer all that, plus it’s just 40 minutes away from London by train. What’s really great about it as well is that you can also pick blackberries and really slow down time by embracing the scenery. So have you been to this location before?
One content creator named Franky recently stumbled on Balcombe, which is just a brief train ride from London Bridge.
In a TikTok video with her 38,300 followers, she said: “You should do this hike outside of London instead of the Seven Sisters. If you want to see open fields, an incredible viaduct [and it’s] one of the best spots for blackberry picking.
“Only a 40 minute train ride from London, you’ll find Balcombe. You step off the train onto a footpath lined with blackberry bushes.”
Although Franky said it’s a great location during the heatwave, it’s also good for when the weather has cooled down ever so slightly.
Discover the Ouse Valley Viaduct Walking Route
Gushing over the mix of woodland and rolling hills, she continued: “The walk is just under 10km and there’s a pub in Balcombe so you can get a cold drink afterwards.
“It’s called the Ouse Valley Viaduct walk as halfway along you’ll find this incredible structure. It’s such a unique, niche place to see, definitely save this video for your next sunny weekend if you want to escape London.”
You can explore the Ouse Valley Viaduct walk via Ardingly Reservoir and Balcombe for a scenic 8-mile circular route through the West Sussex countryside.
The Ouse Valley Viaduct walk is roughly 12-14km and can take about 3-4 hours to complete. The difficulty of the trail is moderate which includes some gentle hills, farmland and potentially muddy footpaths after it rains.
Key highlights include the stunning 19th-century Ouse Valley Viaduct which was built in 1841 with 37 grand arches. This spot is a great opportunity for some photos, or even just to relax and take it all in.
How to Get to Balcombe from London
Getting to Balcombe is fairly straightforward from London. You can take a direct train from London Bridge or London Victoria to Balcombe station, approximately 40-45 minutes.
The trailhead begins right past the station car park, which is ideal if you’re travelling by car. So if you are driving, it will probably take around 1 hour and a half, covering 62 miles via the M25.
