Edward Alleyn – a favourite actor of Queen Elizabeth 1 – bought the Manor of Dulwich. He left it in trust for the education of local children. 400 years on, the estate survives and the Trust thrives. Its management, over time, has fashioned this slice of south London. Walk through it to find how. Start with Turney Road. Why are its elegant Edwardian frontages out of period in a Victorian suburb – because after building the road the estate took 30 years to let the land. Spreading behind the house fronts are the many playing fields. All the sports along the walk – croquet, cricket, tennis, rugby golf were once the fields of estate farms – even the nearby velodrome of the 1948 Olympics. Reach Dulwich Village to find its old Almshouses, its Picture Gallery and Dulwich Park – a park on land the estate donated. Wander across the park to take in the lovely long avenue of Cox’s Walk which meets the disused line of the high-level railway to Crystal Palace. The railway land was the estate’s too – railway compensation rebuilt the Dulwich schools below. Following the line of the railway through Sydenham Hill Woods there’s soon a tunnel entrance blocked for all but the bats. The path takes a woodland circuit round the slope to reach Sydenham Hill station.
A B A –
Section 10 of the Ultimate London Walk September 2026:
This was another stunning area with a wonderful village feel. As always, our guides provided excellent historical context and details throughout the route. Closing in on Crystal Palace, the walk effectively highlighted the infrastructure built to support it, giving a real appreciation for the scale of the original spectacle.
The pre-walk information was also excellent. The detailed email regarding meeting points, potential toilet stops, and terrain made it very easy to prepare and pack appropriately. Additionally, the group size was ideal, allowing everyone to hear clearly and walk at a comfortable pace without feeling rushed.
Finally, our guide, Charlie, was outstanding—attentive, passionate about sharing his knowledge, and very open to input from the group.
Jacky –
Sections 9 & 10: Stockwell to Sydenham Hill
This is the afternoon stretch from Herne Hill (Brockwell Park) to Sydenham Hill. Such a contrast from all the walks we’ve done so far!
Dulwich Village is a delight with its neat architecture and independent shops. The Dulwich Picture Gallery goes on my list for a visit at another time. We walk through the massive and very beautiful Dulwich Park, so leafy and tranquil it’s hard to believe you’re still in London. We finish by crossing the South Circular and onto quiet, winding woodland tracks to Sydenham Hill.
A walk of many contrasts, urban/rural, rich/poor, the essence and magic of London in a single day.
Melanie Goodwin –
Loved Dulwich Village, what a gem that I had no idea existed! Can completely understand why it is protected and as always Charlie was a fount of fascinating information.
Dorothy MacDonald –
Living in north London this was a great walk to learn all about the Dulwich Estate, all new to me and such a contrast to the previous section, amazing, ending with a flavour of the walk to come.