Epping Forest

Ancient woodland at the end of the Central line

Robert Pack / Alamy

Stretching from east London up into Essex, Epping Forest is an epic labyrinth of centuries-old oaks, beeches, birches and hornbeams. Regular visitors each have their own preferred patch: whether it’s the open spaces at Chingford Plain, the Iron Age hill fort of Loughton Camp or the bluebell woods at Wanstead Park. In this magical place, the subject of generations of folklore, you might stumble across the fabled cave said to have been highwayman Dick Turpin’s hide-out or find yourself on the banks where Queen Boudicca once allegedly made camp. After meandering through myths, refresh yourself at the Original Tea Hut – a legend in itself that’s been serving up proper brews since 1930 – or with a scallop-and-bacon butty at the Oyster Shack & Seafood Bar.

Loughton, IG10 4AF
Loughton
visiteppingforest.org

Painshill

Fantastical landscape of follies and foliage

Peter Chiverton / Alamy

Back in the 18th century, aristocrats went wild for extravagant gardens designed to look like living paintings, full of useless (but beautiful) ornamental structures. Not many still exist – but one such masterpiece has survived tucked away in the Surrey countryside. Walk the three-mile ‘historic route’ through the Hon. Charles Hamilton’s eccentric creation at Painshill and you’ll spot a gothic tower, a Turkish tent, a Greek temple and a ruined abbey all nestling among the meticulously planted gardens. The highlight is a subterranean lakeside grotto, dripping with crystal stalactites, but the whole site is a surreal yet pastoral experience – where the only thing that reminds you that you’re not dreaming is the low hum of the A3.

Cobham, KT11 1BE
Waterloo to Cobham & Stoke d'Abernon, then bus or taxi
painshill.co.uk

Bekonscot Model Village

A nostalgic world in miniature

Chiltern Photography

There’s only one place near London where you can visit a castle, a zoo, a funfair and a fishing village all in the space of an hour. The catch? They’re all about 12 inches high. Bekonscot, the world’s oldest model village, opened in 1929 and claims to have since welcomed more than 15 million (full-sized) people to gawp at its recreations of interwar England. Here you’ll find life, death and everything in between: there’s peril (a house on fire), merriment (Morris dancers),industry (coal mines and factories), and a whole load of pun-tastic shop names. Linking it all is a sprawling model railway that whizzes through scaled-down stations – and if you need to distract your little ones from trying to grab the buildings, Godzilla-style, there’s a (slightly) larger train they can ride, too.

Beaconsfield, HP9 2PL
Marylebone to Beaconsfield
bekonscot.co.uk

Box Hill

Hike towards the Surrey Hills' classic vista

Greg Balfour Evans / Alamy

Attracting hordes of Londoners since at least the 18th century, this beauty spot was a favourite daytrip destination long before it featured in Jane Austen’s Emma. The lovely walk (around an hour) from Box Hill & Westhumble station takes you across a famous set of stepping stones, up a steep climb and back along the ridge, with spectacular views over quintessentially English countryside all the way. Once you reach the summit, reward yourself with tea and cake at the well-placed National Trust café. The strong-thighed might fancy the cycle up Zig Zag Road – which has become Surrey’s answer to Mont Ventoux since its inclusion in the 2012 Olympics – or if that sounds nothing like your idea of fun, perhaps you might prefer a tour and tasting at nearby Denbies Wine Estate?

Tadworth, KT20 7LB
Victoria to Box Hill & Westhumble then walk or taxi
nationaltrust.org.uk

Turner Contemporary

Pioneering art gallery beside the sea

Phillip Roberts Photography / Alamy

Long before Margate became the default seaside destination for east Londoners, lured by its vintage theme park and stream of foodie new openings, the Turner Contemporary was attracting culture-lovers from near and far. Although it’s not the biggest space, it punches above its weight with an acclaimed programme of free exhibitions, showing work by Steve McQueen, Martin Parr, Tracey Emin and Sarah Lucas (plus the bronze Antony Gormley figure staring off into the waves outside). The building itself is a beauty too, and the sea wall right behind it is a great spot to watch the blazing sunsets that drew painter J.M.W. Turner to Margate time and time again. Book a seafood supper at Angela’s to round off your day at the seaside in style.

Margate, CT9 1HG
St Pancras to Margate
turnercontemporary.org