Barons Cave

You're standing in front of a proper sandstone cave carved into the Surrey hillside near Tadworth, and it's immediately clear why locals have been fascinated by this place for centuries. Barons Cave - also called Reigate Cave - is a hand-excavated tunnel that burrows deep into the rock, and on a grey afternoon it genuinely feels like stepping back in time. The cave itself stretches about 60 metres into the hillside, with chambers branching off where monks are said to have hidden from trouble in the medieval period. Whether that's entirely accurate or local legend embellished over the years, it adds atmosphere.

What you actually do here is walk through. It's not particularly long - allow 30 minutes maximum - but the novelty of being inside a centuries-old cavity carved by hand makes it worth the visit. Bring a torch; it gets dark quickly. Kids find it thrilling for the first 15 minutes, then slightly eerie when they realise there's nothing interactive to hold their attention. History enthusiasts and cave explorers will get more from it, though don't expect anything on the scale of the Peak District show caves.

Access is limited to specific dates - openings fall on the second Thursday of May through September - which is managed by the Reigate Cave and Folklore Society. It's free, and the location works well as a stop-off during a longer Surrey Hills exploration, particularly if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Betchworth Fort or Merrywood. Tadworth town centre is close enough for lunch, though fairly suburban. Worth fitting in, but don't build an afternoon around it.