The Snow In The Summer Or So-So

Walkable London Connections

In a discussion elsewhere, I'm reminded of the Tube Walk Map, a thoroughly useful device to work out when it could be quicker to walk between two tube stations. It links all those stations within 500m of each other, on the assumption that most people can walk 500m in five minutes, and it'll take at least that long to get from one station to the next.

I've done some work to expand this idea to include mainline rail stations, and the following pairs of stations is the result. All the listed pairs stations are within 500m of each other as the crow flies. To the best of my knowledge, there is also a viable walking route between them, but do check against your local maps.

For simplicity, I'm splitting the list into six zones. Outer London (outside the Circle) will be split into four parts, using the Thameslink line (to Luton and Brighton) as a N-S axis, the Thames to the East, and the Great Western line to the West. Inner London has one large network of linked stations, and some other pairings. Each pair of stations is listed once, the order does not matter. Pairs marked with a * are consecutive stops on the same line.

North-west quadrant

North-east quadrant

The following runs of DLR stations are all within 500m of the next:

* Gallions Reach - Cyprus - Beckton Park - Royal Albert;
* Prince Albert - Custom House Excel - Royal Victoria;
* East India - Blackwall;
* All Saints - Poplar - West India Quay - Canary Wharf - Heron Quays (JUB) - South Quay;
* Crossharbour London Arena - Mudchute - Island Gardens

South-east quadrant

And the following runs of Tramlink stops:

* Beckenham Road - Avenue Road - Birkbeck (BR);
* Woodside - Blackhorse Lane;
* Addiscombe - Sandilands - Lebanon Road;
* New Addington - King Henry's Drive - Fieldway - Addington Village

South-west quadrant

More runs of Tramlink stops, each within 500m of the next:

* East Croydon (BR) - George Street - Church Road;
* Reeves Corner - West Croydon (BR) - Wellesley Road - East Croydon (BR);
* Waddon Marsh - Ampere Way;
* Therapia Lane - Beddington Lane;
* Mitcham - Belgrave Walk;
* Merton Park - Dundonald Road - Wimbledon (DIS/BR)

The following list includes two pairs that do not see a connecting service.

Central London - isolated pairs

Central London - the City Network

Note: I've had to estimate some of the distances on the Tramlink network, because not all stops are shown on my map. I've also not included many pairs of adjacent stations on the BR network, as I suspect that most of these pairings would be of little use.

This list nominally includes connections to the DLR extension to London City Airport, due to open soon. My understanding is that the North London Line BR service will cease, and there are no short connections that do not involve walking over stretches of water!

If you only remember a few of these connections, try the Battersea, New Cross, and Putney stations; Farringdon to Chancery Lane; St Paul's to Blackfriars and Barbican; both ways from Covent Garden; and (conversely) that King's Cross to Farringdon is the best part of a mile.

Should you have any corrections, additions, or questions, do drop me a line.

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