Uxbridge

Twenty-five minutes from central London by tube, this surprisingly green corner of west London sits where the Colne Valley spreads into proper countryside. The Metropolitan line terminus makes Uxbridge feel like a gateway town - commuters streaming through weekdays, but come the weekend it transforms into a launching pad for the Chilterns.

The town centre's got that end-of-the-line energy. Busy enough during the week with the university crowd, but quieter at weekends when you can actually appreciate the old market square. It's not winning any beauty contests, mind you, but there's something honest about its mix of chain shops and proper local pubs.

What really sells this area is the countryside on your doorstep. The Colne Valley stretches west towards the Chilterns, with footpaths threading through water meadows and ancient woodlands. Denham's barely ten minutes away, where those famous film studios have been churning out movies since the 1930s. Further north, the Maple Lodge Conservation Society runs a cracking nature reserve - brilliant for families with its bird hides and woodland walks.

Getting here couldn't be easier. The Metropolitan line runs straight from central London, taking about forty minutes from Baker Street. By car, you're right off the M25 and M40 junction - handy for exploring both the Chilterns and the Thames Valley in a long weekend.

Staying at one of the parks around here makes perfect sense. You get the best of both worlds: easy train access to London when you fancy a day in the capital, plus all that Buckinghamshire countryside for proper walks and fresh air. The Colne Valley's footpaths link up for miles, and you're close enough to Gerrards Cross and the posher villages if you want a decent pub lunch.