Epsom Downs View Point Carpark

The car park at Epsom Downs is properly more about the views than the destination itself, but that's exactly why it works. You pull in, get out, and there's Surrey stretching away in front of you - rolling hills, distant woodlands, the whole county rolling south towards the Sussex border. On a clear day it's genuinely worth stopping for, especially if you're passing through Tadworth anyway.

There's a reason the Downs have been popular since Victorian times. The open grassland means nothing blocks your sightlines, and you can see why this place mattered to racing fans back when the Derby was the main event here. These days it's quieter, which suits walkers and families who just want a breather from the car.

As a stopping point during a park holiday in the Surrey Hills area, it slots in nicely. You're within striking distance of Chessington World of Adventures Resort if you've got kids who need theme park thrills, and Betchworth Fort Park and Norbury Park both offer proper woodland walks for the next day. Surrey Hills National Landscape is just down the road too - more serious rambling territory.

Allow 20 minutes if you're just after the views and a leg stretch. Bring a flask and sit for longer if the weather's decent. It costs nothing to park up and look around, which makes it a no-brainer add-on. Best visited on a clear afternoon when the light's good and the hills don't disappear into haze.