London - A watery wander along the Wandle

The River Wandle is one of the better-known of London's minor rivers, and has avoided the fate of so many other waterways in the capital in being able to flow openly along virtually all its course rather than being culverted and hidden away from view. Even so, many Londoners remain unaware of its presence.

It rises in Croydon as a chalk stream, and flows for nine miles through the London boroughs of Croydon, Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth to empty into the Thames just above Wandsworth Bridge. 

In the 18th & 19th centuries, the river was heavily industrialised with factories along its length powered by no less than 68 water wheels. As a result, it became one of the most polluted rivers in England and by the 1960s was considered ecologically dead. 

Since then, strenuous efforts have been made to clean up the river and to restore it to health, and these have borne fruit with the return of trout and other fish to the water. Local nature reserves have been established along its length, and in 1988, the Wandle Trail was created for walkers and cyclists to travel along the river banks from East Croydon to Wandsworth.

The route (see location section for OS link):

Note: This is a linear walk.

Starting on the north side of Clapham Junction station, we'll head north to join the Thames path by Plantation Wharf, and walk upstream along Battersea Reach and under Wandsworth Bridge to reach the mouth of the Wandle where it empties into the Thames.

Now we'll join the Wandle Trail, and follow it inland with the river as our near constant companion as its surroundings gradually change. We'll pass through Wandsworth town centre, where the river is culverted and out of sight, then down the long expanse of King George's Park to reach Earlsfield. The next mile or so is gritty and industrial as we pass through Summerstown until we arrive first at Wandle Meadow Nature Park and then the lovely late-Victorian Wandle Park of 1890, where we'll stop for lunch.

After the break, we carry on through Colliers Wood to reach Merton Abbey Mills, a converted 18th century textile factory now housing crafts & artisans, and then the National Trust property of Morden Hall Park, consisting of a mansion of 1770 surrounded by 125 acres of parkland and reed-beds.

Leaving Morden Hall Park, we continue up the Wandle, switching from bank to bank as we pass through Ravensbury Park, Poulter Park and Hackbridge to finally reach the genteel surroundings of The Grove and Carshalton Ponds and so to Carshalton station.

Dogs

Well-behaved dogs are welcome, but they will need to be on a lead along busy roads and footpaths and in proximity to livestock & wildfowl. Please also be aware that we will be close to open running water for much of the walk. At all other times, a dog must be obedient.

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Photos: Poulter Park (header) / Wandle at Ravensbury Park / Meeting point in Grant Road / Plantation Wharf / Battersea Reach / Mouth of the Wandle / Wandle at Earlsfield / Earlsfield Station / Early blackberries at Wandle Meadow / Wandle Bank, Colliers Wood / Wandle Park / Merton Abbey Mill / Tram crossing, Deer Park Road / Wetland at Morden Hall Park / Millstones artwork, Ravensbury Park / The Grove, Carshalton / Carshalton Ponds / Geese at Carshalton Ponds

All photos taken by the leader 15th July 2025 and permission given to OutdoorLads for use.