London Loop Diaries #2
Section 2: Old Bexley to Petts Wood (walked 6th December 2025)
It was a rain-heavy week leading up to my walk which made for a very muddy ramble through the countryside of Section 2 of the London Loop, but I like to think that added to the whole experience. On the walk itself I experienced a typical British Autumn, by which I mean glorious sunshine, high winds and several bouts of heavy rain. I wasn’t as prepared as I should’ve been but I took away valuable lessons for future walks.
After a short walk through some muddy farmland, following the curves of the River Cray into Foots Cray Meadow I discovered the first of several highlights of this section of the Loop. The Five Arches Bridge which was first built in the 18th Century and rebuilt in the early 2000s. It’s a beautiful bridge that creates ample opportunities for some lovely photography of both the bridge itself and the surrounding Foots Cray Meadow. As I left the meadow, I spotted the spire of the picturesque All Saints Church so ambled over to take some pictures before a brief spell in Foots Cray itself.
Foots Cray itself is a pretty but unremarkable little village, the highlight being the gorgeous Sidcup Place Mansion, now a pub called The Star. If I’d had more time (the lengthy commute meant I started quite late in the day) I would’ve stopped for a drink but needed to push on before the early sunset of winter. Soon enough though, you’re back into greenery in the beautiful Scadbury Park.
The autumn/winter cusp proved to be the perfect time for a ramble through Scadbury Park, golden leaves crunching underneath my walking boots, the path weaving through trees and just enough mud to make it enjoyable, I can imagine this place getting very boggy when there’s been a lot of rainfall. There’s lots that’ll catch your eye as you’re making your way through the park, including an adorable carved bear that you could sit in for a ‘bear hug’, I couldn’t resist taking a selfie with the bear for posterity.
The route briefly takes you past the remnants of Scadbury Manor, a moated manor that can be traced back to the 13th century. The remains are fenced off while archaeologists excavate the site, I would’ve loved to have gotten closer for a proper look.
Along from Scadbury Manor you’ll cross the A208 and head into Petts Wood and another of the walk’s highlights the William Willett Summer Time Memorial. William Willett was one of the promoters of the adoption of British Summer Time and has a sundial (always set to daylight saving time) erected in his honour. It’s a beautiful monument and unless you’re a local, something you’re unlikely to come and visit specifically. It left me hopeful that future sections of the Loop would present more historical curios for me to admire.
Leaving Petts Wood, heading towards the end of this section you’ll cross bridges with railway tracks running underneath them, with the way they’re framed against the woods creating an ideal photo opportunity. It was wishful thinking, but it would’ve been perfect to see a steam train making its way through the woods, the tracks with this backdrop looked built for one.
The southern section of the Capital Ring tended to be lengthy, residential and a bit boring. Rambling through countryside as gorgeous as this, and stumbling across bits of history I wouldn't otherwise have found, was an incredible step up and reaffirms how much more of London there is to see beyond the City.
17 miles down. 133 miles to go.
