How to plan a rural escape from Essex this Summer…
Get away from the hustle and bustle with these rural breaks, which don't require too much travel.
The saying goes when you’re sick of London, you’re sick of life– and while the capital is exhilarating, sometimes you just need a break. We know that Essex contains so many little pockets of rural heaven itself, but if you live nearby, chances are you’ve exhausted all your options, and fancy something a bit different.
These are places where you can immerse yourself in nature, explore quaint, chocolate-box villages and, crucially, hang out in country pubs.
We’ve put together the best rural breaks we could find not too far from Essex:
1. The Surrey Hills, Surrey
A designated Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Surrey Hills are a walker’s dream. And a cyclist’s dream. And a horse-rider’s dream. In fact, pretty much all types of exploration are actively encouraged here and there are dedicated routes in prime spots such as Box Hill and Leith Hill. There is also a thriving art scene with installations dotted throughout the landscape, and a raft of ongoing projects. Getting there couldn’t be easier either: direct trains run from London Waterloo and Victoria in under half an hour.
2. Osterley Park, Middlesex
With hundreds of acres of wild trails, farmland and ancient meadows, the parklands in Osterley constitute one of the biggest open spaces in and around London. This National Trust property takes a shade over 20 minutes to get there by car. Alternatively, hop on the Piccadilly line then walk the short distance to the park. Feeling cultural? Visit Osterley House – Batman, The Da Vinci Code and Chucklevision were all filmed here, and it doesn’t get much more high-brow.
3. Canterbury, Kent
If it’s history you’re after, you can’t go wrong with Canterbury. The historic town is easily accessible by both rail and road in under two hours and you’ll be charmed by the cobbled streets, the castle and cathedral, and references to Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. Canterbury is surrounded by rural countryside and it has the seaside on the doorstep. Combine your visit with a stop at nearby Herne Bay for ice cream and sea air.
4. The New Forest, Hampshire
Animal lovers should make a bee-line for this beautiful part of Hampshire. The area is renowned for the 5,000 New Forest ponies that having been roaming here for about 2,000 years. Prefer pigs? Paultons Park is home to Peppa Pig World, which is, almost unbelievably, the only one of its kind in the UK. You can also stay at the renowned Pig Hotel in Brockenhurst, or visit in September when pigs are allowed to roam freely too. It’s about an hour and a half on the train out of Waterloo, or book a National Express coach for a wallet-friendly option.
5. Oxford, Oxfordshire
Countryside idyll, world-renowned university and the setting for some of Harry Potter: Oxford pretty much ticks all the boxes. It has more culture than you can shake a phoenix-feather wand at, from the Ashmolean museum to the Bodleian Library. It’s close enough to London to go there and back in a day but if you fancy a stay, book yourself into the Malmaison hotel: it used to be a prison and the rooms are double-width cells.