The pretty woodland 25 mins from London with a Gruffalo trail kids will love

This country park is perfect for a crisp autumn walk

For London families looking to get out in the fresh air this weekend, there are plenty of options for those willing to travel beyond their local park. High Elms Country Park near Orpington, South East London, is the perfect setting for a weekend stroll with plenty of woodland to explore and crisp leaves for kids to jump in.

The vast country park includes 250 acres of countryside as well as a 150-acre golf course. Perfect for families, the country park has a café, toilets as well as organised trails, including a Gruffalo trail designed specifically for children.

There is plenty to explore, from woodland and wildflower meadows to formal gardens, a nature centre and even an ice well, all sitting on the ridge of the picturesque North Downs.

The wooded areas are well suited for those looking for a day of gentle exploring, rather than a packed programme of activities. Venture into the woodland and you will find well-marked paths winding through broad-leaved trees, including oak and beech.

The area is popular with dog walkers, so you can certainly bring your four-legged friend along too.

Wildlife

High Elms is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Local Nature Reserve. Its chalk meadows and woodlands support a variety of wildlife, particularly birds. Breeding populations frequently spotted in the reserve include marsh tit, nuthatch, treecreeper, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker and song thrush. Tawny owls, little owls, sparrowhawks and kestrels have also been spotted in the area.

As well as birds, the area is home to 30 species of butterfly and 400 varieties of moth, which is excellent news for the six bat species also recorded in the park. Flower fans should look out for orchids growing in the wildflower meadows, too.

The Ice House

High Elms estate boasts a number of interesting features that history fans will love. While the main house on the estate, once owned by the Lubbock family, was destroyed by fire back in 1967, some features remain including a well-preserved Victorian ice house.

According to Subterranea Britannica, the ice well’s main underground chamber is “3 metres in diameter and around 7 metres deep”, and can be reached by “a descending curving passage”. It is considered one of the best preserved ice houses in Greater London, and is a scheduled monument.

Amenities and accessibility

The Bromley Environmental Education Centre at High Elms, known as BEECHE, offers a sustainable education and visitor centre with facilities including the Green Roof Cafe and public toilets.

All-terrain wheelchairs known as Trampers are available for use at High Elms, but visitors who need one should check arrangements before travelling.

How to get to High Elms

High Elms Country Park is a 25-minute drive from nearby Bexley. To get there on public transport from central London, you should board a Southeastern service from London Bridge to Orpington. From there, take the R8 bus towards Biggin Hill, alighting at North End Lane/Shire Lane.

Don’t miss out on the biggest local stories. Sign up to our MySouthLondon newsletter HERE for all the latest daily news and more