Connect Crystal Palace with Slow Ways

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Crystal Palace

Greater London


Slow Ways linking Crystal Palace and Beckenham Junction, Catford, Croydon, Dulwich, Elmers End, Norbury, Streatham, West Dulwich

England / Greater London / Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace’s eight Slow Ways are 78% checked

Drawn: 8/8
reviewed: 8/8
verified: 7/8
and surveyed: 2/8

Help connect Crystal Palace

Many Slow Ways have several route options. Some will be better than others, or good for different reasons.

Our goal is for each Slow Way to have at least one route that is verified and surveyed. To be verified – and get its snail badge – a route needs at least three positive reviews.

Give a hike and help get a for every one of Crystal Palace’s Slow Ways.

Walk to Crystal Palace from further afield

Slow Way Route To do
Croydon—Crystal Palace
Crocry one Survey me Distance 7km/4mi Ascent 52m Descent 39m
Crystal Palace—Beckenham Junction
Crybec one Survey me Distance 5km/3mi Ascent 36m Descent 70m
Crystal Palace—Catford
Crycat one

Survey me Distance 6km/4mi Ascent 20m Descent 79m
Crystal Palace—Catford
Crycat two Survey me Distance 6km/4mi Ascent 30m Descent 86m
Crystal Palace—Elmers End
Cryelm one Verify me Distance 3km/2mi Ascent 47m Descent 7m
Crystal Palace—Elmers End
Cryelm two Verify me Distance 4km/2mi Ascent 20m Descent 58m
Dulwich—Crystal Palace
Dulcry one Survey me Distance 6km/4mi Ascent 112m Descent 61m
Dulwich—Crystal Palace
Dulcry two Review me Distance 4km/3mi Ascent 87m Descent 39m
Norbury—Crystal Palace
Norcry one Enjoy me Distance 5km/3mi Ascent 105m Descent 64m
Streatham—Crystal Palace
Strcry one Enjoy me Distance 6km/3mi Ascent 91m Descent 125m
West Dulwich—Crystal Palace
Wescry one

Survey me Distance 4km/3mi Ascent 68m Descent 112m
West Dulwich—Crystal Palace
Wescry two Verify me Distance 3km/2mi Ascent 80m Descent 35m

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Crystal Palace and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?

This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!

Collective progress

75% of Crystal Palace’s eight route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified

12/12

drawn

12/12

reviewed

4/12

surveyed

8/12

verified

18 people have contributed to Crystal Palace’s Slow Ways

3 people have pledged to walk and review a route

4 people have surveyed a route in Crystal Palace

59km out of 59km have been walked and reviewed

196km of reviews have been shared in Crystal Palace

Latest Updates

Small changes, like going around Upper Norwood Rec to avoid long grass and a ditch, and following the Capital Ring rather than cutting down stairs, would have made it easier to navigate and wheel friendly....

Strider

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I agree with Angus, the path through Norbury Park is better and shorter than the road walk....

JohnMyerson

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The works are to a bridge and are temporary so no need to do another route as this is very good when do-able....

Strider

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I walked from Crystal Palace to West Dulwich on a rainy afternoon. Despite the rain this was a pleasant, direct, easy to navigate route. There are steep hills, 17%, but no other obstacles for wheels....

Strider

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Several flights of steps, and quite steep parts make it hard for wheels. But interesting shops, great views down side streets, a lovely park, no major roads or dangerous road crossings....

Strider

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With the sad exception of a stepped bridge over the rail at Penge East this would have been okay for wheels, some steep parts near Crystal Palace however. There is some urban pavement walking through Penge before entering Crystal Palace Park with a café and dinosaurs....

Strider

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The dinosaurs in Crystal Palace Park are awesome, perhaps even terrific, but the rest of the park is worth exploring if you have time....

Daisy C

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Walked Crystal Palace to Beckenham Junction. Enjoyable route with plenty of green. There were a couple of places where I wondered why the route detoured a bit, but I decided this is to keep it step free, which is a bonus....

Jane Taylor

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A really enjoyable and safe route. Certainly a better option than crycat(1)....

Tim Ryan

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The original is is a great route, but I think something weird happened to the gpx file as I've seen something similar on another route. This version should be easier to use. And it has more dinosaurs....

Daisy C

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Crystal Palace—Catford

Daisy C added Crycat two, a new walk from Crystal Palace to Catford

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If you don't mind steps, it's shorter to use the footbridge at Penge East Station to get to Lennard Road and you get a view of Holy Trinity Church too....

JohnMyerson

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Was surprised to see the remains of the Croydon Canal to north of Betts Park....

JohnMyerson

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Betts Park is nice, South Norwood Country (!) Park is lovely....

Daisy C

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Note you only need use the flights of steps in the survey photos to get down to the train platforms, not technically on the route at Crystal Palace....

Daisy C

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It’s well plotted, there was one road crossing at Woodside Green that could be tightened up - there’s a nearby zebra crossing (clearly visible) which gives a safe crossing point onto the green....

Jane Taylor

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Crystal Palace—Beckenham Junction

Daisy C added Crybec one, a new walk from Crystal Palace to Beckenham Junction

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A gradual climb past expensive homes to Sydenham Hill station (access by stairs only) then up a steep, tree-lined path to the top of the hill. Popular pub with garden here. And two bus routes go past.. It's steep going down the other side too, first on roads, then through pretty Sydenham Wells Park. As others have mentioned the route line is sub-par here, common in so many parks. Here is better than most as 1) the line is pretty close to paths 2) unusually maps here show all the paths and 3) the Green Chain Walk crosses the park in the same way. And a familiar problem: a hazy route line fixed by using the Green Chain Walk signs and/or surprisingly good paths on maps....

Daisy C

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There are two tiny changes, it uses the safe foot tunnel under the South Circular and explains where the entrance is hidden and, for the joy of it, takes a tiny, signposted detour to see the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs which the majority of reviewers did anyhow....

Daisy C

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Crystal Palace—Elmers End

Daisy C added Cryelm two, a new walk from Crystal Palace to Elmers End

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Yes, I was embarking on the ultimate trek from Streatham to Crystal Palace. Like, "I was feeling a bit down, so I decided to Streatham my way through it." Or maybe it could be a noun, like "I need to pick up some Streatham from the chemist." Who knows!? As we cross over into Norwood, we start to ascend the hill towards Crystal Palace. It's like a canine version of Jurassic Park. Speaking of animals, we will also be passing by the famous Crystal Palace Park, which is home to a menagerie of exotic creatures such as parrots, flamingos, and emus. As you make your way towards Crystal Palace, the city begins to fade away, replaced by lush greenery. And then, suddenly, I was there - Crystal Palace. Whether you’re a lifelong Londoner or a visitor looking for a taste of the city’s unique magic, a walk from Streatham to Crystal Palace is an experience not to be missed....

Magid

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A route past some lovely villas in Streatham. Through Biggin Wood and follwing the Capital Ring to the station...

Lizbiz70

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One thing - some of the paths are quite rough and prone to being muddy with lots of puddles after wet weather....

Intrepid Rabbit

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It provides a very straightforward route along roads to enable the walker to get from A to B, without having to worry about green spaces being shut or possible safety issues after dark. It's really not a bad walk at all, taking us through the leafy and affluent Dulwich Village and ending at a bookshop. Bonus!...

Intrepid Rabbit

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Really green and goes through lots of interesting areas, Sydenham wood is a fantastic place. As others have said it basically follows the green chain walk route and that is probably the best option to make navigation easy...

Dannyash

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Dulwich—Crystal Palace

Daisy C added Dulcry two, a new walk from Dulwich to Crystal Palace

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Sydenham Hill train station is about 800m off route, down Low Cross Wood Lane (off Cres. Wd Rd). Crystal Palace bus station is about 500m uphill from Crystal Palace Station and there are bus stops at Dulwich Common/Lordship Lane, Sydenham Hill/Wells Park Road or Westwood Hill/Sydenham Hill....

Daisy C

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The section between Lower Sydenham and Lower Beckenham is not clear using the gpx line. I just followed the sustrans signs at this point, through an industrial estate with heavy traffic moving around in different durections. Otherwise the route is very good along the river and easy to follow....

Tim Ryan

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Good route, but why not take the diagonal path through Norbury Park instead of along the road (Norbury Ave)? In the Spring months, the diagonal path at Norbury is flanked by daffodils on both sides, an added bonus. When you get to the Crystal Palace end, Stambourne Woodland Walk is worth exploring (cross the main road at the top of Westow Park, it's between two of the white gate posts on the eastern side of the road)....

Angus Hewlett

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There were only a few parts where there are narrow gates to go through and stairs through Sydenham Woods....

Ingrina

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I walked this route from Catford to Crystal Palace....

Intrepid Rabbit

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I think first part could go along Oval Road rather than Cedar Road as there are two nice pubs The Oval and Builders Arms on Oval Road (just parallel to Cedar Rd) both with food as well as drinks....

Sally Thorpe

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The route starts at Crystal Palace Station and proceeds downhill, past the National Sports Centre, to the famous Dinosaur Park. After leaving Crystal Palace Park, the route continues briefly along Penge High Street....

Teeds

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Instead the route goes through the ever-popular Dulwich Park (which has public toilets and a cafe), then follows the Green Chain through Dulwich Woods down to Crystal Palace Park. At Wells Park Road, an alternative to following the Green Chain into Hillcrest Wood (which has one very steep section) is to continue for another 100 metres and turn right to go through Wells Park - one of the prettiest parks in the area (it has toilets as well)....

Teeds

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Park sections are nice; might be worth avoiding the South Circular section...

mulcathery

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Perfectly pleasant walk and flatter than Wescry one, but much less green...

mulcathery

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The route also passes Betts Park (in the middle) which has open space and seating, and is more accessible (level access & path quality) that the other parks....

Marmot

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Crystal Palace

Marmot surveyed Crystal Palace

View facilities

(If you are unable to use stirs continue along Penge High Street from the Park and take Penge Lane.). You then follow the railway line and river through Pool River Linear Park to Catford - this is shared with CATBRO and - Randonneur's review of CATBRO describes the river and route very well....

S J Blann

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A good route but does involve some quite steep climbs and descents - though there are some good views to compensate. Being suburban it does involve a fair amount of street walking , but generally quiet and ranging from Victorian to early 20th century, interspersed with parks. You also pass through Biggin Wood, a small remnant of the Great North Wood originally covering much of what is now South East London which gave Norwood its name....

S J Blann

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there is a steep climb (descent) in the alleyway form Valley road to Valleyfield Road and after crossing Leigham court Road Julian's Farm Road descends slightly less steeply. you will soon come to the central hill estate - this requires steep steps to reach central hill on the recommended route and all exits from the estate to Central hill require steps. At the end of Central Hill you will reach "Crystal Palace triangle" part of Upper Norwood....

S J Blann

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Crystal Palace

danravenellison surveyed Crystal Palace

View facilities

It's steeper and wilder than the more manicured Sydenham Wells Park, but pretty and you get to see one end of the closed Paxton Tunnel, once used for the lost Crystal Palace (High Level) branch railway line....

ripamel82

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While climbing up Farquhar Road, I'd strongly suggest detouring via a loop through the Dulwich Upper Wood nature reserve (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dulwich_Upper_Wood), following paths close to the road....

ripamel82

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Croydon—Crystal Palace

Slow Ways added Crocry one, a new walk from Croydon to Crystal Palace

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Crystal Palace—Catford

Slow Ways added Crycat one, a new walk from Crystal Palace to Catford

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Crystal Palace—Elmers End

Slow Ways added Cryelm one, a new walk from Crystal Palace to Elmers End

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Dulwich—Crystal Palace

Slow Ways added Dulcry one, a new walk from Dulwich to Crystal Palace

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Norbury—Crystal Palace

Slow Ways added Norcry one, a new walk from Norbury to Crystal Palace

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Streatham—Crystal Palace

Slow Ways added Strcry one, a new walk from Streatham to Crystal Palace

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West Dulwich—Crystal Palace

Slow Ways added Wescry one, a new walk from West Dulwich to Crystal Palace

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West Dulwich—Crystal Palace

Slow Ways added Wescry two, a new walk from West Dulwich to Crystal Palace

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1

Crystal Palace, Sun 1 December

Cloudy

Crystal Palace’s Slow Ways starting point

Grid ref

TQ3409270532

Lat / Lon

51.41795° / -0.07299°

Easting / Northing

534,092E / 170,532N

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Crystal Palace and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?

This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!

Facilities

Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Crystal Palace's meeting point

Public toilet

Wheelchair accessible toilet

Supermarket or convenience shop

Restaurant, cafe or pub

Accommodation

Accommodation for under £50 a night

Campsite

Bothy

Free wifi

Mobility scooter hire

Off-road wheelchair hire

Disabled Parking

Train station

Bus stop

Ferry

Official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town

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