Farthing Downs are both scheduled ancient monument and the largest area of semi-natural downland left in Greater London. Within easy reach for Londoners, such pockets of land require stringent legislation to continue their protection.

The Site of Special Scientific Interest is situated in Coulsdon in the London Borough of Croydon and is managed by the City of London. This was the first section of the London LOOP to be opened, the trail runs straight through the centre of the chalk grassland.

Set into the signpost is a small disc for the Downlands Circular Walk; a popular short walk of three or six miles based around Farthing Downs and neighbouring Happy Valley