Langdon Hills Country Park

The views from Langdon Hills stretch across Essex and into London on a clear day, which is the main reason most people make the drive out here. It's an open, windswept plateau rather than anything dramatic - think rolling grassland with the occasional tree, more useful than stunning. The hill itself sits east of Billericay and gives you a proper sense of elevation; you can see why it mattered historically as a vantage point.

Walkers get the most from it. There are reasonable paths across the open ground and it's the sort of place where you can burn off an hour easily enough, longer if you explore the edges properly. Families with younger kids might find it a bit exposed and featureless after twenty minutes, unless they're into spotting London landmarks on the horizon. The ground can turn boggy after rain, so check the weather and wear something sensible.

It's free to visit and works well as a stop on a park holiday in the area. Barleylands Campsite sits just 3.5 miles away and makes a reasonable base if you're staying put for a few days. Thamesview Camping is also within striking distance at 5.4 miles, both with decent ratings. You won't spend all day here, but it breaks up a camping trip nicely - especially if you grab a picnic and make an afternoon of it. Go early if you want decent light for the view across to London.