K3 Bus to Claygate
Village pubs, countryside walks, and Claremont — the quiet escape
The Journey
The K3 starts at Roehampton Vale but pick it up from Kingston Eden Street or Surbiton Station. It threads through Surbiton’s residential streets, past Hinchley Wood, and into Claygate. The route passes through proper suburbia before things get noticeably greener around Hinchley Wood. Stay on until Claygate The Parade.
Get off at: Claygate The Parade for the village centre.
What to Do
Claremont Landscape Garden
A National Trust gem about a 15-minute walk from Claygate village. One of the earliest surviving English landscape gardens, designed by Vanbrugh and Bridgeman, later improved by Capability Brown and William Kent. The lake, grotto, and turf amphitheatre are beautiful year-round. Entry is free for NT members.
Claygate Village
Small but charming — a proper Surrey village with a butcher, a couple of pubs, and independent shops along The Parade. It feels like a different world from Kingston, which is part of the appeal.
Countryside Walks
Claygate sits on the edge of open countryside. Walk south towards Esher Common or out to Arbrook Common for woodland paths and muddy trails. Ordnance Survey Explorer 161 covers the area if you want to plan a longer route.
Where to Eat & Drink
Claygate is a village, so options are limited but solid:
- The Swan — Village pub on the main street. Garden for sunny days.
- The Hare and Hounds — Just outside the village towards Esher. Gastropub with a good reputation.
- The Parade shops — A couple of cafes for coffee and cake.
Practical Info
- First bus: Around 06:15 from Kingston (Mon–Sat)
- Last bus: Around 00:05 from Kingston
- Accessibility: Low-floor buses, step-free access
- Buggies: Space available, fold if busy
- Dogs: Allowed on TfL buses. Claremont Garden is dog-friendly on leads.
- Note: The K3 runs less frequently than routes like the 65 — check the timetable before heading out, especially on Sundays
The Route Back
Same bus, reverse direction. Or if you’ve walked to Esher, pick up the K3 from Esher High Street back to Kingston. The last bus from Claygate is around midnight, so no rush.
TfL Journey Planner: Search “Kingston to Claygate” at tfl.gov.uk for live departure times.
