In 2012 the whole world discovered the region south of London. The Surrey Hills, an ‘area of outstanding natural beauty’, were suddenly in the spotlight. During the London Olympics, Box Hill and Zig Zag Road became places everyone wanted to visit immediately. Since then, the mythical status of this climb and, with it, the region has only grown. This is thanks to the ‘London Circuit’ on the online platform. Zwift But also the inclusion in the Prudential Ride, for example. From central London, you then take the underground to this hilly area. We go in search of this mountain and the opportunities nearby. Because Surrey is the cycling area south of London.
Olympic route
You can start your exploration of the region from Leatherhead or from Dorking. The latter town is about an hour outside the center of London, while Leatherhead is within 10 minutes of reach. From Leatherhead, you can easily drive to the Olympic circuit, including the famous Box Hill climb. It is definitely recommended to stop at Box Hill for a photo and to enjoy the view. The climb itself is only 2.5 kilometers long and with an average of 5%, it is not a rival to La Redoute or another climb in the The Ardennes. Still, it is the ultimate climb in the region and with 129 vertical meters, there is certainly nothing wrong with it. The original circuit runs just south of Leatherhead and measures 16 kilometers in length. It is nice to start or finish with.
Box Hill (c) Surreyhills.org
Nice round
It’s no wonder that this region has been awarded the label ‘area of outstanding natural beauty’. The rolling landscape provides many beautiful vistas. Especially in summer and during the ‘golden hour’, this creates fantastic photo opportunities. So don’t be fooled by the ‘it’s just a 60-kilometer round trip’ cliché; if you head south from Leatherhead and choose the right paths, you’ll soon be climbing 1000 meters up the hill. You’ll definitely feel it. Coldharbour Lane, Anstie Lane and Leith Hill are names you won’t soon forget.
Dorking South
From Dorking, you can better explore the southwest side of the area. You can also take the North Downs on a round of almost 70 kilometers. Here you also have the beautiful Barhatch Lane climb. The sign under the climb already suggests that this is not a walk in the park, and with 21% you will really suffer here. White Down Lane, which is also part of this route, will also bring you some pain and then some fun. Additionally, this region is really very quiet when it comes to cyclists. You will hardly encounter any people here. This is in contrast to Box Hill. That was in 2019 and 2020, still the busiest and one of the busiest segments on Strava. The variety here also makes Surrey the cycling area south of London.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.