National Trust - Polesden Lacey

The Edwardian villa sits on a hillside outside Dorking, all terracotta tiles and mullioned windows, the kind of place where you half expect to bump into someone in a pearl necklace and a long dress. Polesden Lacey is a National Trust property stuffed with the sort of treasures a wealthy Edwardian couple accumulated - fine art, furniture, Chinese porcelain, a library that makes you want to pull up a chair and stay for hours. The grounds matter as much as the house itself. There's a proper garden running to about six acres, with a rose garden that's genuinely worth timing your visit for in summer, and woodland walks that feel removed from the world despite being only a few miles from Dorking.

Families with teenagers who can appreciate a good painting will get more from it than those with young kids - there's not a huge amount of interactive stuff, and the house itself demands a certain patience. The walk alone is worth the entry fee for anyone keen on Surrey Hills scenery. Allow two to three hours if you want to see the house properly and potter about outside without rushing.

If you're camping at Embers Camping just down the road, Polesden Lacey makes for a perfect half-day outing. Norbury Park nearby offers further walking if you need to burn off energy. The property's typically open March to October, though you'll want to check ahead for specific hours. Admission isn't free, but National Trust members skip the fee entirely.