Magical, mystical, fun, exciting! At least it is when you're a kid or you go with kids! Groombridge…read moreplace or the Enchanted Forest as it's better known is home to a pathway of exciting gardens, activities and hidden secrets! There are areas such as the dragon and dinosaur valley, the dark walk, the serpents lair and many other mythical areas to explore! Watch out because sometimes you might find a giant walking about! When I went here we were taken around some parts with a tour guide and he really brought the magic to life! There are also formal gardens at Groombridge place as well as some petting animals. It's a really great day out for the family and it won't cost you and arm and a leg either! I think it's about £9 for an adult now and of course less for children and senior citizens, you can also save by buying a family ticket! It's close to Tunbridge Wells and East Grinstead so can be easily found. Enjoy!

An idyllic destination a short drive from London, Painshill Park is a great place to spend a day…read moreenjoying the beauty of the English countryside. Created by the eccentric Charles Hamilton, the park was created as a "romantic landscape". Both organized and naturalistic, the park offers many vistas, perspectives and experiences. Created with a variety of follies dotting the landscape, the park offers panoramic views and interesting scenes. Views from the Gothic Temple and the Turkish Tent are breathtaking. While exploring the man-made grotto (which is currently undergoing renovation) you can't help but be in awe of Hamilton's vision while at the same time thinking "This guy must have been totally out there to build stalactites with lathe and plaster and then cover them in pieces of crystal!". Whether walking the grounds, bringing a blanket and a book and enjoying the solitude, Painshill Park is a wonderful place to visit. Be prepared to walk, as the park is large and very hilly. It's a good climb to the top of the Tower as well. Would definitely recommend this if you need a relaxing afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of London.

A grade 1 listed park, much renovated over the last 25 years, by the trust that owns it…read more Created by Charles Hamilton ,in the mid 18th century, after his 2 (obligatory) Grand Tours, he wanted to create an idyllic natural setting, around a lake, with water diverted from the river Mole. He was very succesful in this, and created a number of follies, a Grotto, and the unusual Turkish Tent. Many of the plants are of American origin, and were just becoming fashionable at the time. It's worth remembering it's a park like setting rather than a garden like Wisley. Reasonable cafe near the entrance, and the ever present gift shop. Worth chcking their website for offers, currently free entry on Wednesdays in November, children free at weekends, and A special Santa event. The Grotto is only open at the weekends. A great place for a walk on a sunny day, great views across the lake and Surrey.

I loved this beautiful set of lakes, they were absolutely magical. The springs that feed the Silent…read morePool (named so for how still, clear and beautiful it is) sit at the bottom end of the lake, and at the minute, you can't (aren't supposed to) go down to the end due to some subsidence on the path. I'm not saying I went down there anyway, but it's so amazing to see a natural spring. The water is a weird, blue colour and so crystal clear that you just want to dip your feet in, especially on a lovely warm day. It's an ancient, historic and oddly mythical lake. The only downside to me is that it's so small! It doesn't take twenty minutes to walk around it.

Arlington is a small reservoir, constructed in 1971 to supply water to Eastbourne, Hailsham,…read morePolegate and Heathfield. Built on the site of part of the Cuckmere River bed, the reservoir is an oval shape, with a long curving dam. The maximum depth is 37ft (11.3m) and its total capacity is 3546 million litres of water, all abstracted from the Cuckmere River in winter. The 49 hectare site was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1985, and is also a Local Nature Reserve. It contains a diverse range of habitats, which in turn support some 173 species of bird, including a winter population of 10,000 wildfowl. The site has hides for birdwatching, and also provides some of the best trout fishing in the South East of England (tel: 01323 870810). The water company also organises school nature trips, including pond dipping. The reservoir path also provides a reasonably level walking trail, which, as well as wildlife, also offers lovely views of the South Downs. A walking leaflet (http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/047A41DB-1684-4128-AADD-1C508D15F780/0/ArlingtonReservoirWalkWebversion.pdf) is available on the East Sussex County Council website or you can get a hard copy by phoning 01273 482250. Practicalities There is a car park at the main entrance on Station Road, just north of Berwick railway station (on the right hand side, going north). This has information boards, toilets and picnic tables. Swimming and boating are not permitted.

This reservoir owned by South East Water is a lovely place to visit on a warm summer's day. It has…read moretoilet facilities and a large car park both of which are useful for a day trip. The reservoir itself is huge and the area also contains a bird watching lodge and a wood. If you are going here, I recommend taking a pair of binoculars and a camera, as you can capture the beauty of East Sussex right here. It has picnic benches for in the summer. Overall, this is a wonderful place to visit if you want a day trip out or if you are touring East Sussex. I personally have recommended this place to people wanting to go to see some beautiful sights.

This is a really pleasant area situated right in the centre of Haywards Heath. Pretty much every…read morebox is ticked that you would expect of a park. For children there is a sectioned off adventure playground with a decent rubber based safety surface. Teenagers get a skate park with a few ramps to flex some tricks on boards , bikes and blades. Sporty type can play tennis in the fenced courts. Finally, those that prefer to take things at a slower pace can relax on the maintained lawns or under some of the big trees dotted around the area. A number of benches are also situated on the outside if sitting on the grass isn't your thing. The park has male and female toilets, which is handy for longer stays and some of the paths winding around the park make for a good route if you want to have a jog or a stroll. The park also hosts a number of events over the year including a fun fair twice a year and also an open aired music concert. The location makes this a nice spot to have a break from your shopping, or to enjoy your lunch whilst having your break from work. Also, a good thumbs up to the council for the excellent job they do with maintaining the area.

Relaxing, big field for running or football.... They now even have exercise things. Oh a park,…read moretrees, Great for picnicking,

Woah! This park has it all! Also known as St Mark's Park…read more(after the street on which is located) Kensington memorial is brilliant and the perfect place for kids and adult to go crazy. This park has been recently refurbished and I am very happy because its like 10 mins away from mine. It is wheelchair accessible, has a adventure playground with colourful apparatus+ sand box, a larger play area for older children with space rockets climbing frames etc and a large water park that is an absolute blessing on these hot, hot day! And the best part?! It is all free!! There is also a small shop(open during the summer months) that sells hot/cold snacks and chairs and tables you can eat at. Lots of toilets, grass, shade etc. It also includes tennis courts, football, junior cricket classes and One O'clock club which is managed by Family and Children's Services. The park was opened in 1926 in memoriam to those who fell in the Great War.

There's more than 100 llamas and alpacas at this park that has been breeding and nurturing them…read moresince 1987. Llamas and alpacas have always had a bit of bad press about being bad tempered but a visit here will quickly show you how badly deserved that reputation is. They are very friendly indeed. They offer 'Llama Walks' here which is a really novel idea and a great thought for a birthday present but i have to admit they are a bit pricey at £30 per person. You can always share a llama for £50 between two though!

From the owner: The Llama Park is not only home to herds of both llamas and alpacas…read more New animals include reindeer, Spanish horses, Shetland ponies, donkeys, sheep and goats. Not to mention our lovely Welsh Pigs. Chickens, peafowl and Guinea fowl run wild and are greatly loved by visitors and staff alike, whilst ducks, geese and turkeys show off and generally make a lot of noise. Customers can buy food to feed the animals. There is also an excellent coffee shop and restaurant, renowned for cream teas and Sunday roast lunches. There is an excellent and reputed fashion shop selling alpaca knitwear and a wide range of top quality clothes for men, women and children. We also offer two types of llama walk - full and family. The Full Walk allows guests to lead a llama on a one and a half hour walk through the enchanting local countryside. The Family Walk is shorter lasting half an hour around The Park and is designed to let children share the joy of walking a llama parental supervision. Finally, there is also an outdoor playground with a bouncy castle and picnic tables. Following extensive renovations The Llama Park now holds a Music, Dancing and Alcohol licence until 01:00 and a Wedding Licence. There are two beautiful barns which are used for Weddings, Parties of all types and for all ages, as well as for craft fairs, barn dances, music functions, film shows and, of course, The Llama Park's famous Christmas Wonderland with the 'real' Father Christmas.

We always used to take my granny to Borde Hill for a nice long walk around the gardens and then a…read moreslap-up lunch in the cafe afterwards. Country Life Magazine describes this place as one of the most important gardens in the UK. Its not too hard to see why as you walk around the 200 acres of breath-taking, grade II listed parkland and woodland. Everything is arranged and planted as individual 'rooms'. My favourite is the 'Garden of Allah' as the plants really are amazing. This is an ideal place for a nice long walk with a group of relatives or your better half. You really won't find many places like it in Sussex.

I have been coming to Deer's Leap park for many years and throughly enjoy it, rain or shine…read more For those if you that don't know Deer's Leap is a dedicated mountain biking park in East Grinstead covering some 240 acres. The site offers a range of cycling tracks from family friendly tracks to tracks which run through the woods and are aimed at the more adventurous rider. There is on site parking. Now if you think your own bike may not be up to that's fine they hire bikes on the site. You can hire one at a reason price for either 1-2 hours or half a day. I have to say riding over the terrain that the park offers you may find that 1-2 hours out in the park maybe enough. Once you have ridden for as long as you want to, or because your body is telling you that is enough they have a cafe on site also. In the cafe you can get 'proper' coffee (freshly ground) alongside the usual snacks you can also get a toastie. If you have ridden your own bike they do have a 'bike wash'. So you can take your bike back home all clean and shiney. I did find out that they can provide birthday parties with include riding activities and archery. If they do that I am sure they must also provide for the corporate bodies who want to do something different for team building. If you venture down (or up) to Deer's leap remember rain or shine bring a change of clothes!!!! (There are no changing rooms but there is a toilet to change in or your car)