Smoke or sticks? Your call
On the edge of London, The Eye and The Tower are yours to explore. Or stay in the sticks for clay shooting at Gatton Bottom, golf at The Leatherhead Club or a brewery tour of The Hog’s Back. Kids can Go Ape at Alice Holt, brave the UK’s fastest rollercoaster at Thorpe Park or just cuddle the chicks at Bockett’s Farm.
Country kids
Come face-to-face with 1000 incredible animals, including lions, tigers, gorillas, monkeys, penguins and underwater creatures, at Chessington Zoo and Sea Life Centre. Stick around for Chessington World of Adventures, Britain’s biggest wildlife theme park. Or solve over 200 bouldering problems at White Spider Climbing.
Pick your way through paintings, ceramics, embroidery, and architectural designs at Godalming Museum. Catch the family flicks at quirky Curzon Cinema. Or enjoy adventure play, animals, high ropes, zorbing, and even a raptor centre at Hobbledown Adventure Park and Zoo.
Steam through 11 miles of the Sussex Weald on the Bluebell Railway, or book a Footplate Taster experience and be the engine driver for a day. At Thorpe Park, brave Stealth, the UK’s fastest rollercoaster, take flight on The Swarm, or try The Ride, the world’s first horror-themed coaster with a 100-foot ‘beyond-vertical’ drop.
All ages can go wild at Ninja Warrior UK Guildford – climb, balance, jump, and swing across amazing obstacles, while developing your Ninja skills. Add a lick of paint to the bowls and pots at Apple Tree Studio. Or ride the tractors, cuddle the chicks, and bounce on the jumping pillows at Bockett’s Farm.
For the grown ups
On the edge of the lights and sights of London, woody Surrey feels a world away. So pop into town for The Eye, The Tower, The West End and more, or stick around in the sticks for all sorts of local larks, including clay shooting at Gatton Bottom or shooting 18 holes at The Leatherhead Club.
How about some history? Hampton Court, Henry VIII’s pleasure palace, is within reach, while Chartwell was the home and garden of Sir Winston Churchill. Explore the back story of the More-Molyneux family at Loseley Park. Or climb the Great Tower at Guildford Castle for 360-degree views of the Surrey Hills.
Take a brewery tour at The Hog’s Back or a tasting day at Silent Pool. Try the sauna and steam rooms on a spa day at Guildford Manor. Take an invigorating walk around Bourne Woods, Frensham Little Pond, and Thursley National Nature Reserve. Or go bizarre and sunbathe and swim at the man-made beach at Frensham Great Pond.
Love Downton? You’ll know about Highclere Castle. Take a tour of the 300-or-so rooms. Go Ape in the trees at Alice Holt, or follow the trails by bike. Drop your rod in the river with Fly Fishing Surrey, walk the gardens at Wisley, have a flutter at Royal Ascot. Wrap up a long day with a cocktail fix at Lime Bar.
