Putney To Barnes: River Walks, Public Transport & More (2023)

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Looking to travel between Putney and Barnes? You’re in the right place! Both are beautiful areas in London and are well worth visiting during your time in England’s capital.

The river walk between Putney and Barnes is one of the most popular short walks in Southwest London. With beautiful views of the water, the backdrop of the London skyline and the leafy green parks on your left, it’s an easy and rewarding walk that can be completed by most.

Or, if you want to travel from Putney to Barnes using a different mode of transport, this post will help you to get a hold of navigating the tubes/trains/buses/boats in London.

So, let’s start and discuss all the possible ways to travel from Putney to Barnes and start planning your amazing trip to London!

Still have a question about travelling from Putney to Barnes? Let me know over on Instagram or shoot me an email at jennie(@)jenniewanders.com!

🇬🇧 Other Southwest London posts:

• Best Pubs in Richmond, London: A Local’s Guide
• Waterloo To Richmond: Easy Step-By-Step Guide
• Wimbledon To Richmond: Step-By-Step Guide
• 16 Fun Things to do in Richmond, London (By A Local)

Putney To Barnes: A Summary

The journey between Putney and Barnes in London is roughly 1.4 miles (2.25 km). It will take around 8-10 minutes to drive directly between the two places, depending on traffic, roadworks and mode of transport. 

The most popular way to travel between Putney and Barnes is by train or on foot, walking alongside the River Thames.

In summary, there are four ways to get from Putney to Barnes. These options are:

• Train (3-minute journey)
• Car (10 minutes)
• On foot/by bike (along the river, under 30 minutes)
• Bus (10 minutes)

Note that there are no London Underground tube stations in Barnes. The train line is the South Western main line train. If you’re travelling to Barnes or Putney from London Waterloo, the journey is under 20 minutes.

1) Putney To Barnes by bus

One of the easiest ways to travel between Putney and Barnes is by bus. From Putney Pier, board a 378 bus towards Mortlake. This takes you directly to Barnes and takes under 10 minutes.

From Putney Station, you can either walk 8 minutes to Putney Pier or board two buses to Barnes. From the station, board a 337 bus to Priory Lane (stop G, 8 minutes), then from Priory Lane bus stop (stop D), board a 33 bus for 6 minutes to Barnes. One of the best stops to depart is the Barnes Red Lion.

Buses in London are safe, easy to use, modern and clean. Note that you need to pay with either your contactless card or Oyster card. They do not accept cash.

2) Putney To Barnes by train

The easiest way to reach Barnes from Putney is via the mainline train (note; this is NOT the London Underground).

From Putney mainline station, check the boards to find a train running to Barnes. Trains run throughout the day; leaving every 20 minutes or so. The platform also changes frequently, so be sure to double-check the electronic boards and the TFL/Google Map updates on your phone if you are unsure.

From Putney, the train journey to Barnes is just 3 minutes. Trains are modern, clean and comfortable, so sit back and relax (well, relax as much as you can in 3 minutes).

🦉 TOP TIP: In London, we refer to the London Underground as the ‘tube’, and the mainline overground lines as the ‘train’. Your contactless card can be used on both (unless you are travelling to a city outside of London i.e. Brighton, where you’ll need to buy a specific ticket).

3) Putney To Barnes on foot/cycling

One of the nicest ways to travel between Putney and Barnes is on foot. Both Putney and Barnes are on the River Thames, so you can walk along the river and enjoy the views of the city.

There are shorter ways to walk from Putney to Barnes (like walking via Felsham Road and Rocks Lane), but it’s not quite as scenic as the River Thames walk. However, it does cross through Barnes Common, which is packed full of picnic-goers in the summer months!

📍 Starting point: Putney Pier

🗺️ Distance: 1.4 miles (26-minute walk)

🚶🏼‍♀️Directions: Walk along the River Thames until reaching Queen Elizabeth Walk. Turn left and continue walking along this road until reaching Barnes High Street.

🚲 Cycle options: The River Thames route is also the best way to cycle from Putney to Barnes. Start from Putney Pier and cycle 5-10 minutes to Barnes (1.4 miles).

4) Putney To Barnes by car

Alternatively, you can drive between Putney and Barnes, or jump in a taxi. If you’re fortunate enough to have hired a car in London, you can easily drive between Putney and Barnes in under ten minutes, unless you get stuck in the dreaded London traffic!

The drive will take you through Putney and along to Barnes mainline station. The High Street is just a few minutes drive from Barnes Station. It’s worth looking on Google Maps before doing the journey to check the traffic.

Parking in Barnes can be chaotic, so make sure you have a car park in mind before heading off. Our favourite place to park is the Rocks Lane car park (SW13 0DG), which is open 24 hours. From Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm you will need to pay a tariff. Outside of these hours, the car park is free. Rocks Lane car park is also accessible.

Ubers in London are readily available within minutes. They’re safe, cheap and easy to use. Or, if you’d like to experience a traditional Black Cab, you can hail one from the side of the road, or order one on the Gett app.

Where to stay in Putney

If you’re visiting Putney for the first time and need a place to stay to check out the area, here are some of the best-located apartments and hotels.

• 3 Bedroom Private Apartment: for a cosy and quintessential apartment with garden space in the heart of Putney ➡ CHECK PRICES HERE!

• Modern Flat on Putney High Street: the perfect location for travelling in and out of London on a daily basis! ➡ CHECK PRICES HERE!

• 1 Bedroom flat with Patio: five minutes from the high street, this apartment is on the River Thames and has a beautiful setup! ➡ CHECK PRICES HERE!

Where to stay in Barnes

Looking for somewhere to stay in Barnes? As Barnes is only a 19-minute journey from London Waterloo, it’s a great place to stay when you’re visiting the city. Check out the following accommodations:

• A 4-person apartment in the heart of Barnes ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW

• A large, 2000ft² 3-bedroom house with an outdoor patio and garden (perfect for groups) ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW

• Veeve Quartz House holiday home in Barnes ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW

Getting around Putney

Southwest London isn’t as tricky to drive in as Central London, and most people in the area own a car. If you’re visiting for a short amount of time, it may be worth hiring a car to get around to some of the parks, attractions and museums. 

Putney is also only a short 15-minute train journey from London Waterloo, so it’s a great place to stay if you’re visiting the city for the first time.

If you’re looking to hire a car in London, we rent our cars from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world!  ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in London now!

If you don’t want to drive, there are regular trains until midnight and buses in Putney 24 hours a day. You can use your contactless card on both trains and buses in London. 

For cheap train tickets to and from London, check out Trainline. We book with them whenever we are leaving the city, and want to get to other locations in the UK (including airports). ➡ CHECK TRAIN PRICES NOW!

Putney To Barnes: FAQs

1) What train line is Barnes on?

Barnes is on the main line overground (South Western) line from London Waterloo. There are no London Underground tube stations in Barnes.

2) What train line is Putney on?

Putney is on the District Line (underground) and the main line overground (South Western) from London Waterloo.

3) Does Putney station have a ticket office?

Yes, Putney station currently has a ticket office (August 2023). However, it may be closing in the near future, so check before you travel if this is something you require.

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If you’ve been putting off researching the best travel insurance companies, I get it, it takes a long time. But it’s my job to make your travels as easy and as successful as possible, so that’s why I’ve done all the hard work and research for you!

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Putney To Barnes: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about travelling from Putney to Barnes! When you’re planning a trip to London, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at real-life travellers wanting authentic and down-to-earth information. 

I’m currently balancing travelling around the world and living in London with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more London content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

🇬🇧 Other Southwest London posts:

• Best Pubs in Richmond, London: A Local’s Guide
• Wimbledon To Richmond: Step-By-Step Guide
• Putney To Richmond, London: Step-By-Step Guide
• 16 Fun Things to do in Richmond, London (By A Local)