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.

Alice Holt is an amazing and large place for long walks, adventure play park for the kids, Go-Ape,…read morecycle hire and large lake and cafe area...great to go on a sunny day! Lots of different walks can be taken with a Stick Man walk for the little ones! Play park is great and can be difficult getting the younger members of the family out! There are picnic benches along the way, with some great view points too...as its large you don't feel on top of everyone on a busy day...although parking can take a while, so be aware!

A forest owned by the Forestry Commission I had to add a positive review for this place becuase…read morethey were the last place in Farnham to have Christmas trees when I left it too late. It is a lovely day out with paths and walks to suit all ages and abilities - including wheelchair friendly. It also has a cafe and plentiful parking. There are climbing frames for kids in addition to the Go Ape centre within the forest which is for big kids (death slides, assult courses etc). A good picnic location as well as a place to get Christmas trees.

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.

went to the park last week with our children and saw the new slide area which is absolutely…read moreterrible. To be able to get up to the slide, you have to crawl through small holes which are very dangerous if you step backwards and forget that it's there.. I'm surprised it's been allowed. Also considering it's near Great Ormond Street Hospital, you would think it was more of an SEN friendly park. Such a shame.

Wish the ground is soft neat foam like ground not dirt ground. Other than that seems more down to…read moreearth than US ones. Two bouncing crossing ropes" are extreme fun for 5 yrs n plus kids.

I've been visiting California Country Park since I was a small child, and I still find it as…read morebreathtaking as I ever did. The forest is enchanting, with ferns and moss clearings, the nature trails are incredible, winding through the hidden bogs and woodland, and the lake is beautiful, teeming with fish and birds. Bring the children to feed the swans, meet the baby ducklings and play in the log themed playground, complete with zip line and a paddling pool in the summer. Have a cup of coffee, slice of cake or ice cream at Jackson's Cafe, and wander the park, breathing in the fresh air of true nature. It is one of my favourite places in the world, I hope you enjoy it just as much.

I grew up spending my weekends at Frimley Lodge Park. My dad and I had a specific route that we'd…read morebike, which would start off at the train station, lead along the river, down that exhilaratingly steep hill (always a highlight of the ride), then through the fields and back around. In fact, I first learned to ride a bicycle here. My dad ran behind me along one of the long gravel paths, promising to hold on to the back of the saddle while I pedalled -- a promise that he failed to keep, of course, and it wasn't until I looked back to see him now yards away from me that I realised I was riding on my own. I've never lived anywhere since then with a park like Frimley Lodge, and I miss it. My family moved to California over ten years ago, and while there are plenty of small community parks, nothing compares. I always go back to the park when I'm visiting Frimley, if only to remind myself of how lucky I was as a child to have such a great expanse of beautiful green land practically in my back garden. It's a fantastic place for walks, runs, bike rides, or team games in the field. Not to mention BBQs and picnics!

A walk through a forest or woodland is one of my all-time favourite things to do (I'm convinced I'm…read moresupposed to be a forest ranger); so during a visit to friends who live in Ash, we spent a couple of hours ambling through Ash Ranges Wood on a lazy and sunny Sunday morning. The wider Ash Ranges area covers almost 2,500 acres (about four square miles), so there's a lot of land to explore. What makes this wood unusual is that you can hear frequent gunfire and minor explosions off in the distance! A sizeable part of the Ranges is used by the Ministry of Defence for live firing exercises and training - the 'danger areas' are only closed when red flags or red lamps are displayed on the perimeter fencing, otherwise the public are free to wander unrestricted. Even when the red signals are up, you needn't be concerned as you'll be nowhere near where the action is. The woods are very popular with dog walkers and folks wanting to escape suburbia for a while. Ideally, there'd be no noisy distractions, but once you're used to it you tend to zone it out and just enjoy your time in the stunning natural surroundings.

Fantastic historical place to visit if you are interested in the local history of Guildford. I went…read moreon a casual tour of the house and was given interesting facts about the history of the estate and the family that live there currently! The gardens are fantastic to visit if you love flowers and there is plenty of space to enjoy the countryside. There is the lovely tearoom there where you have a selection of savoury and sweet tea and scone deals, and you can also order a jacket potato with a selection of toppings too if you are hungry. The staff are all friendly and it is nicely situated not far off from the A3. They are hosting a garden show 22-24th July this year where they will have a selection of different stalls of food, wine and arts and crafts. Very nice for an escape from the manic chaos of London!

not been in the house itself, hence only four stars, but the grounds are beautiful. the main reason…read morefor the review though is that they stage the Battle Proms, and i think other concerts and even plays outdoors. makes for great day and evening out, bring own picnic etc..