Rickmansworth

Three rivers converge here - the Chess, Gade and Colne - which explains why this Hertfordshire market town has such a watery feel. Canal boats chug through the centre, while the Grand Union Canal towpath makes for proper leisurely walks past converted mills and smart riverside pubs.

Rickmansworth's got that satisfying mix of Metropolitan line convenience and countryside escape. The high street won't set your world alight, but it does the job, and you're minutes from some cracking walking territory. Rosehall Wood is a lovely stretch for dog walkers and families, while history buffs will find remnants of medieval grandeur - the Plantagenet Royal Palace site and Priory ruins hint at grander times.

The surrounding Chess Valley is absolute gold for ramblers. Rolling Chiltern hills stretch in every direction, peppered with beech woods and chalk streams that photographers adore. Chalfont & Latimer and Chorleywood stations put you on the doorstep of even more walking routes through some of Hertfordshire's finest countryside.

Getting here's dead easy - the A404 drops you right in, or take the Metropolitan line from London. It's that rare thing: a town that feels properly rural despite being 30 minutes from Baker Street.

Basing yourself at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense. You've got easy access to both the town's amenities and those gorgeous Chess Valley walks, plus you're well-placed for day trips deeper into the Chilterns or even a quick dash into London when the countryside palls.