It is often said that London is a string of villages that have grown together. This sense of village is found even on a walk that begins at London Bridge and incorporates Rotherhithe, an old dockland village that retains many unique characteristics. Herds of royal deer roam in Richmond Park, while Eltham Palace offers the illusion of rolling countryside within sight of the City. Although there is no need to go far to find countryside in south London, London's public transport network is extensive and places such as the National Trust's Petts Wood, Downe and Merstham on the Surrey borders, all featured here, can be easily be reached.