Gerrard Winstanley

The Diggers' settlement on St George's Hill near Addlestone is where Gerrard Winstanley and his followers attempted something radical in 1649 - claiming common land and living communally during the English Civil War. There's not much left to see on the ground, which is the honest truth: no visitor centre, no reconstructed buildings, just open hillside where you can walk and imagine what that act of defiance must have felt like. What draws people here is the idea of it more than the physical remains. If you're into 17th-century political history or interested in how ordinary people resisted landowner power, it's genuinely thought-provoking ground to stand on. Casual walkers might find it a bit thin - you need to bring your own knowledge to make it sing. The nearby Polyapes Scout Campsite makes a decent base if you're planning a longer stay in the area, and you can easily combine this with other Surrey walks and historical spots. Allow an hour or so for a proper walk around and time to absorb the significance. Go when the weather's decent because there's no shelter and frankly, windswept Surrey isn't as atmospheric when it's drizzling. It's free, naturally, and there are no barriers or nonsense - you just turn up. Best suited to history buffs and anyone interested in radical movements. Families with young children might get restless unless they're already keen on the period.