Crystal Palace: Walking the Historic High Level Railway

Fri Apr 10 2026 at 02:00 pm to 05:00 pm UTC+01:00

The Vicar's Oak, | London

Richard Watkins, Footprints of London
Publisher/HostRichard Watkins, Footprints of London
Crystal Palace: Walking the Historic High Level Railway
Advertisement
Plotting remains of the Crystal Palace High Level line: station sites, arches, tunnel portals, the track bed and other great features.
About this Event

When the Crystal Palace exhibition site opened in June 1854 it was served by one railway line to a station half way down the hill carrying thousands of visitors a day... But another private railway company wanted a piece of the pie! 10 years later the Crystal Palace High Level Railway opened bringing visitors to the top of the hill to a very grand castillated station with an ornate entrance right into the exhibition halls!

This line and station have now long gone. So what happened?

My walk traces the remnants of the southern half of the line up to the Lordship Lane station site. We find elegant butressed station walls, north and south portals to two major tunnels, pass the site of the Crystal Palace subway (currently under a fantastic restoration), walk along the track bed in Sydenham Woods to find that "Pissarro view" and take in other surprises such an historic ventilation shaft, a surviving station building and other historic buildings.

Note: this is a three hour walk but there is the chance for a break at the Wodehouse pub. Sensible footwear is recommended for walking through woods. We will finish by the beginnings of the Horniman's nature trail. It is a short walk from there down to Forest Hill mainline station or there are plenty of buses going from there and along London Road.

Advertisement

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Vicar's Oak,, Corner of Anerley Hill, Crystal Palace Parade, London, United Kingdom

Tickets

GBP 12.50 to GBP 17.50

Icon
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Discover more events by tags:

Heritage-walk in LondonHistory in London

Ask AI if this event suits you:

More Events in London

The Boy At The Back Of The Class
Fri, 10 Apr at 01:00 pm The Boy At The Back Of The Class

Southbank Centre Belvedere Road London SE1

Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Fri, 10 Apr at 01:00 pm Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Phoenix Theatre

The Boy at the Back of the Class
Fri, 10 Apr at 01:00 pm The Boy at the Back of the Class

Queen Elizabeth Hall

London Symphony Orchestra in Greater London
Fri, 10 Apr at 01:00 pm London Symphony Orchestra in Greater London

LSO St. Luke's

The Princess & The Pea
Fri, 10 Apr at 01:00 pm The Princess & The Pea

Mycenae House

Walk - Love in Hyde Park - A Soldier\u2019s Girl in Knightsbridge Barracks
Fri, 10 Apr at 01:00 pm Walk - Love in Hyde Park - A Soldier’s Girl in Knightsbridge Barracks

Knightsbridge Station

The Book of Mormon
Fri, 10 Apr at 02:30 pm The Book of Mormon

Prince of Wales Theatre

Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular
Fri, 10 Apr at 02:30 pm Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular

Empress Museum

Tipsy Workshop: Organic Spring Wreath Making
Fri, 10 Apr at 03:30 pm Tipsy Workshop: Organic Spring Wreath Making

Ideal home Show

The Orb's Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld Live
Fri, 10 Apr at 04:00 pm The Orb's Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld Live

Fox And Firkin

Modern Era 2026
Fri, 10 Apr at 04:00 pm Modern Era 2026

New Cross Inn

FRAMELESS
Fri, 10 Apr at 04:30 pm FRAMELESS

Marble Arch Place

London is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore London Events