Good scenic drives within 2 hours of London?

[Geesus]

Hi guys,

Recently relocated from New Zealand to South West London. (SW14)
I've got a few more days off before I start back at work and am looking for some options on places to drive with the wife and kids.
It'll be in the Volvo estate so not looking for anything too spirited.

Does any have any ideas? It'd be good if it wasn't more than 2 hours each way to keep the kids from going crazy in the car.
As its pretty cold outside at the moment, we're just as happy to stay in the car if the scenery is nice along the way, rather than a boring drive and then a 1 hour bush walk and the like.

Cheers.

[Finlandia]

Coming from NZ it probably won't impress you that much, but I really like the A259 between Brighton and Eastbourne, especially if you detour over Birling Gap and Beachy Head.

[ClaphamGT3]

A4074 from reading to Oxford then a poodle round the city and back to London on the M40 - lovely bit of countryside followed by a beautiful city

[S3_Graham]

ClaphamGT3 said:

A4074 from reading to Oxford then a poodle round the city and back to London on the M40 - lovely bit of countryside followed by a beautiful city

Good call that one.

Surrey hills around Guildford and Gomshall always provide good views.

[FBP1]

Whitstable / Broadstairs in Kent - one hour from the M2/M25 junction east of London.

Lunch at royal oyster co or the Hotel Continental in Whitstable then drive on to Broadstairs for a walk along the sandy beaches and then the famous Italian ice cream / hot choc parlour at the top of the cliffs or the great chippy on the harbour wall (lobster and chips , sir?) if you fancy something warmer.

Very pretty place - more like a Cornish fishing village than a Kentish Town - and a great beach that you just shouldn't expect to find at the end of the Thames estuary.

If the weather turns bad then there is the Captain Digby in Kingsgate Bay just outside Broadstairs - good food, effectively a private sandy beach (as there is no parking except for patrons), and an indoor/ outdoor play area for the ankle biters.

[alolympic]

Head out on the A3.
Tomorrow morning, if you are fit for it, get to the Brooklands museum, where the New Year gathering of classic cars is the biggest in the country.
Then head down to Dorking, cross country to Petworth.

[DCS01]

Try Buckinghamshire, get of the A40 around Beaconsfield and head through the back roads to Aylesbury.

[Swanny87]

Head up to Welwyn (Herts and not Welwyn Gdn City) then take the B656 NW through Coldicote and into central Hitchin. When you get to the roundabout turn left onto the A505, then take the B655 (right at the fork) on towards Barton-le-clay.

To get to Welwyn get off the A1 at J6 northbound then go straight over 2 roundabouts following the A1000 and then turn left at the third for the B656.

Edited by Swanny87 on Wednesday 31st December 17:41

[Northernchimp]

New Forest, good excuse to go for a wonder round Bealieu gardens and motor museum.

[Riley Blue]

alolympic said:

Head out on the A3.
Tomorrow morning, if you are fit for it, get to the Brooklands museum, where the New Year gathering of classic cars is the biggest in the country.
Then head down to Dorking, cross country to Petworth.

This would be my recommendation too, plenty to see at Brooklands, especially tomorrow.

[OvalOwl]

Ashdown Forest, between Crowborough and East Grinstead. B2026 from Westerham, or B 269 from South Croydon through Warlingham and Limpsfield to Crockham Hill and then the B2026.