In April 2015 I compiled a comprehensive list of sightseeingworthy places to visit in outer London, quadrant by quadrant, to counter the usual inner London focus. This April I thought I'd turn my attention to the Home Counties, specifically anywhere within 10 miles of the Greater London boundary, and compile something similar. I'm not interested in nice pubs or great walks, because there are hundreds of those, but actual attractions or places of interest. I'm doing south of the Thames today, clockwise, and will head north tomorrow. If I've been and blogged about it, I'll link to that. I'm going to be quite strict about the 10 mile limit. If I miss out anything good, let me know and I'll try to add it, the idea being that this builds into a resource for anyone to refer back to. Summer's coming up, could be useful.
KENT
• Dartford: OK, Dartford Museum(free, 9am-5pm, closed Sundays) won't detain you long, but might be preferable to a haul round Bluewater or a walk underneath the QE2 Bridge [blogged]. Nearby medieval chapel/garden St John of Jerusalem(£2.80, 2-6pm, NT) is only open on Wednesdays.
• Cobham:Owletts(£4.20, 11-5pm, Sundays, NT) was the 17th century home of 20th century architect Sir Herbert Baker.
• A20/M20: The Swanley New Barn Railway(£1, weekends and school holidays, Apr-Oct) runs a brief service with ride-on trains round Swanley Park [blogged]. Petrolheads would no doubt prefer the thrill of a race day at Brands Hatch(£16-ish, various events). Great Comp Garden(£8.50, 11-5pm) near Wrotham, covers a quirky seven acres. Old Soar Manor(free, 10-6pm, closed Fridays) in Plaxtol is what's left of a 13th century knight's house.
• Darent Valley: A beautiful place for a day out, and dead easy to reach by train. Lullingstone Roman Villa(£8.10, 10am-6pm) rubs up against Lullingstone Castle(£9, noon-5pm, Fri-Sat), the former properly historical, the latter more for the horticultural [blogged]. Eynsford Castle is medieval but in ruins, and always open. The Shoreham Aircraft Museum(£5, 10-5pm, Sat, Sun) is an Aladdin's cave of crashed military debris [blogged]. It takes about two hours to explore the Otford Solar System[blogged], and rather less time to look round Otford Heritage Centre(free, weekday mornings, weekend afternoons).
• Sevenoaks: The town's lovely (though the museum's skippable). Top suggestion is to walk out through the Deer Park to Knole(£15, 11-5pm, NT), a magnificent 400-year-old archbishop's palace, and if you're feeling fit stride further along the Greensand Ridge to Ightham Mote(£14.40, 11-5pm, NT), a pristine 14th-century moated manor house [blogged].
• Westerham: National Trust members are spoilt for choice hereabouts. In Westerham itself is Quebec House(£5.90, 12-5pm, NT, closed Mon, Tue), once home to soldier James Wolfe [blogged]. A more impressive draw is Chartwell(£15.50, 11-5pm, NT), Winston Churchill's downland hideaway, accessible by Oyster-friendly 246 bus on Sundays [blogged]. A hike from there via Toys Hill (also NT) leads to Emmetts Garden(£12, 10-5pm, NT) with its seasonal bursts of colour (and a bluebeller's treat) [blogged].
• Eden Valley: Further out, another heritage cluster. Hever Castle(£17.75, 10.30-6pm), Anne Boleyn's childhood home, is a moated manor plus lake, maze and landscaped parkland, so not to be rushed. 19th century Chiddingstone Castle(£9.50, 11-5pm, closed Thu-Sat) is filled with art and antiquities and can be found within Chiddingstone Village(NT). Beyond lies Penshurst Place(£12, 10.30-6pm), another stately home complex with extensive gardens and activities. Over in Edenbridge the small Eden Valley Museum(free, hours vary, closed Mon, Tue) tells West Kent's social history [blogged].
• Oxted: Less than one mile from the London border, enveloped by the North Downs, Titsey Place(£8, three afternoon tours, Wed, Sat, May-Sept) offers a charming house/garden/tearoom combo [blogged].
• Caterham: The East Surrey Museum(free, 10-5pm, Wed, Thu, Sat) is small and homely (and very near the station) [blogged].
• Reigate: Pride of the town are Reigate Caves(£5, 10-4pm, 2nd Saturday of the month, May-Sept)[blogged], mined for sand beneath Castle Hill, and definitely worth seeing on the few days they're open. Climb Reigate Hill for one of the best vistas on the Downs, nip into Reigate Fort, then follow the escarpment to Gatton Park[blogged].
• Epsom: To 'discover the fascinating past of Epsom & Ewell', pop upstairs in the flying saucer at Bourne Hall Museum(free, 9-5pm, closed Sun, Mon)[blogged].
• Dorking: In town is Dorking Museum(£2, 10-4pm, Thu-Sat), a decent and recently-upgraded delight [blogged]. Staff run occasional tours into the South Street Caves, but tickets sell out fast. Climbing Box Hill, perhaps via the Stepping Stones, is a knackering must [blogged]. On the opposite side of the valley is Denbies Wine Estate where you can stroll amid the vines or take a wine-tasting tour [blogged]. Beyond Ranmore Common is Polesden Lacey(£13.60, 11-5pm, NT), the quintessential Edwardian country retreat and one of the National Trust's finest [blogged].
• Clandon:Clandon Park(£8.40, 10-5pm, closed Mon, Tue) burned in 2015, but the National Trust welcomes those who'd like to see how restoration's going. The country house at Hatchlands Park(£11.80, 2-5pm, Tue-Thu & Sun, also NT) opens four days a week, but the surrounding garden and parkland daily.
• Woking: The town where HG Wells wrote War of the Worlds now has a Martian in the town centre and a modern culture-shed called The Lightbox(£5, 10.30-5pm, closed Mondays) mixing history with art [blogged].
• Weybridge: Transport fans should head to Brooklands Museum(£14.50, 10-5pm) for a display that's mostly cars and aircraft (including an actual Concorde you can actually board), but also includes the London Bus Museum[blogged].
• Chertsey: I should mention Chertsey Museum(free, 12.30-4.30pm, closed Sundays and Mondays), the museum of the borough of Runnymede, but the true attraction hereabouts is of course rollercoastertastic Thorpe Park(from £33, from 10am, Mar-Oct)[blogged].
• A3: Near Esher you'll find Claremont Landscape Garden(£9.50, 10-6pm, NT), a gorgeous place to roam, and also the boarding point for trips to The Homewood(£14.35, pre-booked tours, Friday or Saturday), a Modernist country villa [blogged]. Further down near Cobham is Painshill(£8, 10-6pm), a particularly elegant 18th century landscaped garden [blogged], and on the other side of the M25 the ever-popular RHS Garden Wisley(£14.50, 10-6pm).
• Windsor Great Park:Virginia Water(free) has a gorgeous landscaped lakeside, notably the Valley Gardens, [blogged]. For more formal horticultural delights try The Savill Garden(£11 summer, £6 winter, 9.30am-6pm).
• Egham:Egham Museum(free, 10-4.30pm, Tue, Thu, Sat) is little known, whereas the meadow at Runnymede(free) where Magna Carta was signed is world famous [blogged].
• Windsor: Obviously there's Windsor Castle(£22.50, 10-5pm, occasionally closed), which'll be thronged with tourists. For a rarely-seen royal hideaway make a date instead with Frogmore House(£7+£9, three days a year, late May/early June)[blogged]. Windsor Museum(£2, 10-4pm, closed Mondays) fills the ground floor of the Guildhall. Finally let's not forget the brick wonders at Legoland(from £29, 10-6pm).
• Cookham: The Stanley Spencer Gallery(£6, 10.30-5pm) displays the artist's works and temporary exhibitions in a converted Wesleyan chapel.
If you have any further thoughts on places you'd go out of your way to visit, please add them in the specific comments box above (Kent, Surrey or Berks), and I'll add your best choices later.
