Surrey

Surrey pairs handsome market towns with quiet countryside villages, all within easy reach of London yet distinctly their own. Guildford is the natural hub, with its cobbled high street, cathedral and university buzz, while Farnham and Dorking offer similar historic charm on a gentler scale. Reigate and Leatherhead make sensible bases for exploring the North Downs, and Chertsey and Weybridge lean towards the Thames, with riverside walks and a more genteel pace.

For something quieter, Ockley and Tadworth sit amid rolling farmland and commons, ideal for walkers wanting village pubs and open country. Lingfield retains a rural, racing-town character, while Camberley and Mytchett suit those wanting practical bases near Surrey Heath's woodland and military heritage. Together these places suit both short breaks and longer stays, from town-centre convenience to peaceful village retreats.

Surrey's hotels and B&Bs range from coaching inns and country pubs with rooms to airport hotels handy for an early flight. Guildford is the obvious base for exploring the county, with its cathedral, castle grounds and river walks, while Woking and Esher suit those wanting easy rail links into London without paying central London prices.

Horley sits close to Gatwick, and places such as the Gatwick Inn Hotel and Holiday Inn London Gatwick Airport draw travellers who need somewhere convenient for a flight rather than a Surrey holiday as such. Elsewhere, villages around Albury and West End offer a quieter alternative, with the likes of The Drummond at Albury and The Inn West End giving a more rural, pub-with-rooms feel.

Given the spread, it is worth deciding first whether you want to be near the airport, near a station, or somewhere greener, as the character of a stay in Guildford differs considerably from one near Gatwick.

Surrey packs a lot into a small county, and its 111 attractions reflect that variety. Chertsey has Thorpe Park on its doorstep, while Weybridge and Cobham draw on Brooklands' motoring heritage and the polo grounds nearby, seen in fixtures like Minninnooka Polo Day. Guildford and Camberley lean towards indoor entertainment, with venues such as MeetspaceVR and ANOTHER WORLD VR joined by soft play centres and football coaching like KickX.

Further out, things get quirkier: the Great Cockcrow Railway near Chertsey is a proper miniature steam line, and Farnham and Dorking offer a gentler pace with countryside pursuits and family-run outfits. Reigate's Art-K caters to creative days out, while Pro Paintball and FairWeather Golf give active groups somewhere to burn energy.

Choosing where to go often comes down to whether you want a big-name day trip or something smaller and local. The M25 and A3 corridor towns tend to have the larger venues, while Farnham and Dorking suit those after a quieter, more rural outing.

Surrey's dining scene runs from riverside pubs along the Thames at Staines-upon-Thames, Chertsey and Sunbury-on-Thames to village inns and country restaurants further into the county. Addlestone and Egham add a good spread of everyday options, from cafes to more formal dining, while smaller villages tend to centre on a single well-used pub that doubles as the local meeting point.

What suits best depends on the occasion. A riverside spot like those near Chertsey or Staines works well for a relaxed lunch or evening by the water, while pubs such as The White Bear or The Mulberry Inn offer the kind of proper Sunday roast and pint that anchors a village. Elsewhere, golf clubs and museums with cafes attached, like Kingswood Golf And Country Club or Haslemere Educational Museum, give useful options for combining a meal with something else.

Surrey's mix of wooded hills, heathland and farmland makes for varied camping and glamping, with much of it gathered around the Surrey Hills near Dorking, Ockley and Leatherhead. Sites such as Hurtwood Hideout and Surrey Hills Yurts sit within easy reach of the sandstone ridges and bridleways that draw walkers and cyclists, while Etherley Farm and Waggoners Campsite at Hampton Estate offer a quieter, more rural base near Farnham and Seale.

Further west and south, Godalming and Alfold bring a gentler, greener landscape, good for families wanting simple pitches or a yurt for a weekend rather than a full expedition. Ichi-Coo Park and Hammonds Glamping fall into this relaxed bracket, with woodland settings and a short drive to local pubs and towns.

Charlwood, near Gatwick, suits those combining a countryside stay with travel connections, while Care Ashore Campsite and The Green Escape show the range on offer, from community-run grounds to small, personally run glamping spots. Distances between sites are short, so it's worth weighing up terrain and atmosphere as much as location.

Surrey's self-catering cottages tend to sit just outside the towns, on farms and small holdings where converted barns and outbuildings have been turned into independent places to stay. Around Guildford and Woking you'll find clusters like Whitmoor Farm, which offers several separate cottages on the same site, useful for families or groups who want their own space but like being near each other.

Properties such as Tor Hatch, with its cabin, cottage and house options, show how one location can suit different party sizes, while standalone spots like Cowshot Barn and Eagles Nest appeal to those after more privacy. Most are within easy reach of the North Downs and the Surrey Hills, making them a practical base for walking, cycling or simply a quiet weekend away from London.