Highgate Wood

You'll know Highgate Wood the moment you step in - that sudden shift from suburban north London into something genuinely wild. Ancient oaks tower overhead, their branches so thick they block out most of the sky even in summer. The paths wind through 70 acres that feel properly remote despite being barely four miles from central London.

This is managed woodland, which means it's actually accessible rather than a tangle of fallen logs. The main loop takes about an hour at a leisurely pace, though you can cut it short if you're knackered. Spring's the real winner - bluebells carpet the forest floor and the whole place smells green and alive. Summer's lovely but busy with families, which is either a bonus or a drawback depending on how you feel about screaming kids in the undergrowth.

Walkers get the most from this. It's not a destination walk - too short, honestly - but it slots perfectly into a bigger London weekend. If you're staying at Elstree Park (about six miles south), Highgate Wood makes for a cracking morning outing before heading into central London or exploring the wider green spaces around Hertfordshire. It costs nothing to enter and the woodland is completely free to roam.

Bring proper shoes. The paths get boggy, especially in winter, and there's a pond that varies between gorgeous and murky depending on rainfall. Kids under eight might find it a bit samey after half an hour, but older children who actually like trees rather than playgrounds will be fine. Realistically, allow an hour and a half including sitting on a log contemplating your mortality.