Box Hill (National Trust)

Sometimes the best days out are when you and your friends and family get the chance to shake off the tensions and traumas of the rat race. Getting back to nature is always fun, and here at Box Hill you’ll find a place where the air is fresh and the fun is all around you. Sometimes, the peace and quiet of a beautiful location is all you really need.

Box Hill lies within the celebrated Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and it’s a popular spot for visitors throughout the year. Located pleasingly close to South London and within easy reach of both East and West Sussex, the panoramic views offer the ultimate photo opportunity. It’s also something of a magnet for cyclists, and indeed featured on the route taken by Olympic competitors in the 2012 road race events.

The area is overseen by the National Trust and is the ideal spot for exploring with the kids or walking with the dog. There’s also a café here for those times when you want to stop awhile and take in the views, as you tuck into homemade cakes, light lunches and a selection of hot and cold drinks. Box Hill might be around 20 miles from central London, but at times like these it seems to be a million miles from all the hustle and bustle.