Hersham’s biggest
Coronation Recreation Ground
Playing field
7.7 ha (19 acres)1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
11 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Hersham
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: David Howard · CC BY-SA 2.0COutdoors Grade
Outdoors in Hersham · parks, paths & countryside
Parks and walks in Hersham
The Surrey Hills National Landscape begins 5.7 mi from the town’s edge. Parks and playing fields in Hersham add up to 2.5 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. A park or playing field is within a 5-minute walk for 73% of residents. Hersham grades C for the outdoors: #61 of 65 in Surrey. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
2.5 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
73%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
42 km
2.4 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
0%
of the land within 5 km
Surrey Hills starts 5.7 mi out, past the 5 km
Character
What kind of outdoors town is Hersham?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
Countryside close byThe Surrey Hills National Landscape starts 5.7 mi south-east.On a National TrailThe Thames Path passes through.
Hersham’s strongest suit is the Surrey Hills National Landscape close by, followed by the Thames Path.
Outdoors grade
Hersham grades C for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Hersham, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
C
Better than 28% of UK towns#61 of 65 in Surrey · 45th of 60 UK towns its size
Public green space2.5 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
60out of
100
100
A park within a walk73%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
34out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape0%of the land within 5 km · Surrey Hills begins just past 5 km
31out of
100
100
Footpaths2.4 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
41out of
100
100
The sea0%of the area within 5 km · Inland
42out of
100
100
Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Towns its size
Hersham is 45th of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 12,000 to 13,300 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Hersham2.4
Towns its size2.9
Surrey towns4.3
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Hersham2.5
Towns its size2.1
Surrey towns3.1
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Hersham73%
Towns its size81%
Surrey towns75%
All UK towns83%
Against towns its size, Hersham stands out most for park space per resident: only 23 of the other 59 have more. It falls furthest behind on path per km², where 42 of the others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitby North Yorkshire | A+ | 4 | 100% | 2.9 | 53% |
| 2 | Farncombe Surrey | A+ | 5.7 | 92% | 3.8 | 54% |
| 3 | Sidmouth Devon | A | 2.6 | 73% | 2.9 | 60% |
| 4 | Newhaven East Sussex | A | 1.9 | 84% | 2.9 | 50% |
| 5 | Rhosllannerchrugog Clwyd | A | 3.5 | 98% | 2.8 | 31% |
| 6 | Southwick West Sussex | A | 1.1 | 100% | 2.6 | 34% |
| 7 | Houghton-le-Spring Tyne and Wear | A | 4.8 | 100% | 4.2 | 0% |
| 8 | Killingworth Tyne and Wear | A | 4.7 | 97% | 4.5 | 0% |
| 9 | Little Lever Greater Manchester | A | 4.5 | 97% | 4.5 | 0% |
| 10 | Wick West Sussex | A | 1.3 | 91% | 3 | 25% |
| 11 | Blackwood Gwent | A− | 3.6 | 97% | 4.4 | 0% |
| 12 | Bridport Dorset | A− | 0.9 | 75% | 3.7 | 71% |
| 13 | Flackwell Heath and Wooburn Green Buckinghamshire | A− | 1.7 | 90% | 3.9 | 30% |
| 14 | Guiseley West Yorkshire | A− | 2.5 | 75% | 5.7 | 6% |
| 15 | Wantage Oxfordshire | A− | 2.5 | 71% | 3.9 | 47% |
| 16 | Lees Greater Manchester | A− | 2.5 | 80% | 4.4 | 4% |
| 17 | Tavistock Devon | A− | 5.9 | 83% | 1.6 | 72% |
| 18 | Ivybridge Devon | B+ | 1.8 | 86% | 3.4 | 38% |
| 19 | Berwick-upon-Tweed Northumberland | B+ | 2.5 | 62% | 2.7 | 1% |
| 20 | Ringwood Hampshire | B+ | 2.3 | 78% | 3.2 | 43% |
| 21 | Chorleywood Hertfordshire | B+ | 2.7 | 37% | 5.7 | 22% |
| 22 | Poulton-le-Fylde Lancashire | B+ | 3.6 | 85% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 23 | Bentley South Yorkshire | B+ | 3.4 | 100% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 24 | Marple Greater Manchester | B+ | 3.4 | 64% | 3.8 | 5% |
| 25 | Poynton Cheshire | B+ | 2.2 | 79% | 3.7 | 14% |
| 26 | Royal Wootton Bassett Wiltshire | B+ | 1.6 | 98% | 3.1 | 10% |
| 27 | Cudworth and Shafton South Yorkshire | B | 3.1 | 88% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 28 | Littleborough Greater Manchester | B | 5 | 85% | 3 | 0% |
| 29 | Stotfold Bedfordshire | B | 2.1 | 96% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 30 | Enderby and Narborough Leicestershire | B | 1.9 | 89% | 4.4 | 0% |
| 31 | Rushall and Shelfield West Midlands | B | 4.3 | 88% | 2.5 | 0% |
| 32 | Honiton Devon | B− | 1.3 | 90% | 2 | 73% |
| 33 | Scawthorpe and Cusworth South Yorkshire | B− | 3.1 | 88% | 2.5 | 0% |
| 34 | Standish Greater Manchester | B− | 2.6 | 84% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 35 | Chigwell Essex | B− | 2.9 | 64% | 4.5 | 0% |
| 36 | Wells Somerset | B− | 1.7 | 65% | 3.4 | 26% |
| 37 | Sheerness Kent | B− | 3 | 68% | 1.7 | 0% |
| 38 | Ince-in-Makerfield Greater Manchester | B− | 2 | 74% | 5.1 | 0% |
| 39 | Rochford Essex | B− | 2 | 71% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 40 | Knutsford Cheshire | C+ | 2.6 | 83% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 41 | Thame Oxfordshire | C+ | 2.9 | 91% | 1.8 | 0% |
| 42 | Huntington North Yorkshire | C+ | 2 | 72% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 43 | Street Somerset | C+ | 0.7 | 96% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 44 | Todmorden West Yorkshire | C | 0.8 | 72% | 6.8 | 0% |
| 45 | Hersham Surrey | C | 2.5 | 73% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 46 | Ferndown Dorset | C | 0.7 | 13% | 4.5 | 0% |
| 47 | Bridgnorth Shropshire | C− | 2.4 | 66% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 48 | Haverfordwest Dyfed | C− | 1 | 85% | 1.4 | 8% |
| 49 | Oakham Rutland | C− | 1.8 | 86% | 1.8 | 0% |
| 50 | North Walsham Norfolk | C− | 1.3 | 69% | 2 | 10% |
| 51 | Market Drayton Shropshire | C− | 1.5 | 88% | 1.5 | 0% |
| 52 | Kirk Sandall and Edenthorpe South Yorkshire | D | 2 | 75% | 1.4 | 0% |
| 53 | Amesbury Wiltshire | D | 1.8 | 73% | 1.6 | 0% |
| 54 | Driffield East Riding of Yorkshire | D | 2.1 | 75% | 0.9 | 0% |
| 55 | Mountsorrel Leicestershire | D | 0.9 | 56% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 56 | Flint Clwyd | D | 1 | 56% | 1.2 | 0% |
| 57 | Mountain Ash Mid Glamorgan | D | 1.4 | 56% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 58 | Wombourne Staffordshire | D | 0.8 | 78% | 1.8 | 0% |
| 59 | Balderton Nottinghamshire | D | 1.4 | 64% | 1.7 | 0% |
| 60 | Thorne South Yorkshire | D− | 1.6 | 65% | 0.6 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Hersham’s built-up area.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Hersham
The biggest is Coronation Recreation Ground, 7.7 ha (19 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
All 5 named parks by size: 17 ha (43 acres) and 3 km of path
Parks & gardens 2.1 haPlaying fields 15 ha
The two biggest, Coronation Recreation Ground and West End Recreation Ground, are 88% of the named green space and carry 2 km of path between them. 3 of the 5 are under 2 ha: small gardens, play spaces and pitches.
West End Recreation Ground
Playing field · 10 m outside town
7.6 ha (19 acres)0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
11 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.9 mi eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
The Green
Park or garden
1.2 ha (3 acres)0.1 km of path
2 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Hersham
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Back Green
Park or garden
0.9 ha (2 acres)
Centralin the middle of Hersham
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Ashley Park
Park or garden · 250 m outside town
0.1 ha (0 acres)
0.6 mi north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Close to home
7 in 10 Hersham residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
Within 400 m (73%)Further (28%)
Hersham73%
Towns its size81%
Surrey towns75%
All UK towns83%
About 3,500 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 24 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 526 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
The Surrey Hills National Landscape is 5.7 mi away
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
Protected landscape begins just outside the 5 km ring the Outdoors Grade measures, so Hersham scores 0% on it even though the Surrey Hills National Landscape is 5.7 mi away.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
Hersham is on the Thames Path
42 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Hersham and the kilometre around it, 2.4 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
NationalRegionalLocal
Locks and Levels (SCC)2.1 km
Views Walk, Claremont2.0 km
Thames Path1.9 km
Lake Walk, Claremont0.8 km
Weybridge to New Haw Lock Walk, River Wey Navigations0.3 km
Thames Path - alternate0.3 km
The Thames Path, a national route, passes Hersham. The regional route here is the Thames Path - alternate.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
When to get out
The best walking months in Hersham: May to September
The town’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.3 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.6 | 16.6 | 16.2 | 14.6 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| High (°C) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 9 |
| Rain (mm) | 61 | 49 | 43 | 46 | 46 | 50 | 48 | 61 | 56 | 74 | 75 | 67 |
March is the driest month (43 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 23 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 75 mm of rain falls in November, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 35 nights a year. The climate in Hersham →
Things to do
24 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK town its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
1Viewpoints1Hills and peaks1Nature reserves1Picnic sites24Playgroundsabout the same as towns its size
The nearest beaches
Hersham is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the town.
Amity Beach4.5 mi from Hersham’s edge
DirectionsHog Hole8.5 mi from Hersham’s edge
DirectionsThe Hollows8.6 mi from Hersham’s edge
DirectionsKelson Beach18 mi from Hersham’s edge
DirectionsDock Beach20 mi from Hersham’s edge
DirectionsGood to know
Check the water before you swim. The Environment Agency tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Up high. St George's Hill, at 78 m, is the highest named top within 2 km of Hersham.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 1
Plus 1 viewpoint without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 1
St George's Hill78 m (256 ft) · 1.0 mi from town
DirectionsNature reserves 1
Esher Common100 ha · 1.2 mi from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 1
Plus 1 picnic site without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 24
Children's Play Area0.7 mi from town
DirectionsBadgers Basecamp den building area0.7 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 22 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Next door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
Walton-on-ThamesEsherWeybridgeSheppertonCobhamUpper HallifordHersham
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hersham | C | 2.5 | 73% | 0% |
| Walton-on-Thames 1.2 mi | C | 1.6 | 81% | 0% |
| Esher 1.9 mi | A− | 6.9 | 86% | 0% |
| Weybridge 2.0 mi | B+ | 3.9 | 80% | 0% |
| Shepperton 2.6 mi | A | 8.7 | 89% | 0% |
| Cobham 2.6 mi | B | 3.1 | 49% | 1% |
| Upper Halliford 2.7 mi | B− | 5.1 | 44% | 0% |
Shepperton, 2.6 miles away, grades A, the best next door: 89% of its residents live within 400 m of a park. Esher, Shepperton and Upper Halliford have at least twice Hersham’s green space per resident. None of the neighbours has a protected landscape within 5 km either.
Questions about the outdoors in Hersham
What is the biggest park in Hersham?
Coronation Recreation Ground, 7.7 ha (19 acres), with 1.8 km of path. West End Recreation Ground (7.6 ha) is second. 5 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is Hersham near a National Park?
The nearest protected landscape is the Surrey Hills National Landscape, 5.7 mi south-east of the town’s edge. It covers 422 km² and was designated in 1958.
What are the best walks near Hersham?
6 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the Locks and Levels (SCC), Views Walk, Claremont and Thames Path.
What is the nearest beach to Hersham?
Amity Beach, 4.5 mi from the edge of the town, then Hog Hole (8.5 mi). Hersham itself is inland.
How many people in Hersham live near a park?
73% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Hersham?
May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Is Hersham good for walking?
About average for paths: 2.4 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 41% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 60% (2.5 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Hersham’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Hersham’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.