Richmond Park

One of London's largest green spaces, Richmond Park sprawls across 2,500 acres of proper woodland, grassland and lakes just a stone's throw from Chessington. You can drive through it - there are roads crossing the park - but the real magic happens on foot, away from the tarmac.

The big draw here is the free-roaming deer. Hundreds of them, red and fallow, wandering the bracken as if you've accidentally stumbled into a nature documentary. They're closest to the roads at dawn and dusk, though honestly, you'll spot them throughout the day if you're patient. Kids find them genuinely thrilling, though they need reminding these aren't petting-zoo animals.

Walkers get the best of it. There's a 7.5-mile circular route that takes you through woodland and past ponds, or you can dip in for shorter strolls around Isabella Plantation, where the rhododendrons are spectacular in spring. Allow two to three hours if you're doing a proper walk; less if you're just popping in for a leg-stretch.

It's free to enter and open year-round, though winter can feel a bit bleak and exposed. Spring and early autumn are genuinely lovely - muddy underfoot in places, mind you. If you're camped at Walton on Thames site nearby, this is well worth the short drive. The park works equally well as a full day out or a quick morning wander between other attractions. Just bring decent shoes.