Sevenoaks

Ancient burial chambers dot the countryside around this prosperous Kent town, where commuter trains rattle towards London every twenty minutes. Sevenoaks sits pretty in the rolling chalk downs, surrounded by sprawling woodlands and some proper countryside that feels genuinely rural despite being just 25 miles from the capital.

Chestnuts Long Barrow and Addington Long Barrow remind you this landscape has been home for millennia. Both Neolithic sites are well worth the walk - the Chestnuts barrow in particular offers cracking views across the Medway Valley. For something more recent, Old Soar Manor provides a glimpse into medieval life, though it's just ruins now.

Mereworth Woods, Hall Wood and Moorlands Wood create a green corridor perfect for proper walks. The area feels surprisingly wild once you're off the main roads. Trosley Country Park pulls in families at weekends, but midweek it's blissfully quiet. Great Comp Garden shows off what dedicated horticulturists can achieve on seven acres of former orchard.

Borough Green & Wrotham station puts you on the direct line to London Victoria in under an hour. The M20 and M26 make driving straightforward too, though parking in Sevenoaks town centre can be a nightmare during the week.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense - you get countryside peace while remaining close enough for day trips to Canterbury, the coast, or even London itself. The glamping options around here have multiplied recently, giving you proper beds rather than sleeping bags under canvas.