West Wood (Free Car Park) Forestry Commission

You'll find West Wood just outside Canterbury, a Forestry Commission reserve that's genuinely decent for an afternoon if you've got restless legs to burn. It's proper woodland - the kind where you can actually lose yourself for a bit, which is saying something in Kent. The trails wind through mixed forest, and in spring the bluebells are absolutely worth timing your visit around. Summer gets muggy under the canopy, but autumn's when it really sings with colour.

It's a walker's spot, mostly. Families with young kids might manage an hour before boredom sets in, but if you've got a ten-year-old who likes exploring, you could stretch it longer. The free car park is a genuine bonus - no faffing about with coins or apps. Allow a good two hours if you want to do more than just a quick loop, though the trails vary enough that you're not forced into anything too strenuous.

If you're based at Hawthorne Trench Campsite just down the road, West Wood makes a solid morning before heading somewhere with a bit more going on. Port Lympne Safari Park is close enough for a second day out. The woodland itself is fairly low-key compared to some of the bigger attractions around Canterbury, but that's actually the appeal - it's about space and fresh air rather than crowds. Best visited midweek if you value peace and quiet.