Warren Wood

Warren Wood sits just outside Marlow, a proper beech and oak woodland that's ideal if you're after a solid walk without the crowds you'd get at somewhere more famous. The forest floor is thick with leaf litter, which sounds lovely in autumn but means muddy patches year-round - bring decent boots. You're looking at gentle woodland trails that wind through dense canopy, dappled light, the whole thing. It's the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think, which is increasingly rare round here.

Walkers will get the most from it. This isn't a destination attraction where you turn up for two hours and call it done - it's more of a proper ramble spot if you're camping at Shillingridge or one of the riverside parks nearby. The paths are easy enough for families, though younger kids might find the lack of facilities (no café, no visitor centre) a bit limiting. If you're after history or formal gardens, look elsewhere.

The nearest facilities are back in Marlow itself, so come prepared with a packed lunch and water. Allow two to three hours minimum if you want to actually explore rather than just potter about. Best visited after rain when the woodland smells decent and the paths are properly defined. You won't need to book or pay - it's just a forest you can access. If you're staying at Hurleyford Farm or Hurley Riverside Park down the road, this makes a solid addition to a few days in the area, but it's not the sort of place you'd travel specifically from London for.