Photo: Stacey Harris, CC BY-SA 2.0Cobham is a village on the River Mole and home to Painshill, an 18th century landscape garden with a grotto and follies, with Brooklands Museum a short drive away.
Photo: Len Williams, CC BY-SA 2.0A Grade II listed early 19th-century watermill on the River Mole, restored by volunteers after decades of neglect and now the only fully working watermill in Surrey. On open days the team mills corn and shows a short film about the restoration.
Photo: Amandajm, CC BY-SA 3.0A 160-acre 18th-century landscape garden in Cobham, laid out as a series of views around a serpentine lake with follies placed along the way. It is run by an independent charity, Painshill Park Trust, and the old house is private and not part of the visit.
Photo: David Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0A 360-hectare patchwork of woodland, heathland and wetland stretching from Esher to Cobham and from Oxshott to West End, managed by Elmbridge Council. The commons are a Site of Special Scientific Interest for their rare butterflies, beetles and reptiles.
Photo: nick macneill, CC BY-SA 2.0An 18th-century garden shaped by Vanbrugh, Bridgeman, William Kent and Capability Brown, once a royal retreat for Princess Charlotte and later bought by Queen Victoria. Paths lead round a serpentine lake to a grass amphitheatre, a grotto and the Belvedere Tower.
Photo of Esher: David Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0A farm in West End, Esher, with a garden centre, farm shop and restaurant, and a 150-acre pick your own farm growing fruit, vegetables and flowers in season. Autumn brings a ticketed pumpkin event in the fields.
Photo: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0More than 800 acres of heathland and woodland beside RHS Garden Wisley, now joined by the Cockrow Heathland Bridge, the first heathland bridge in the UK. Trails lead to the restored 1822 Semaphore Tower on Chatley Heath and the hidden Samuelson Mausoleum.
The Royal Horticultural Society's flagship garden, just off the A3 north of Guildford, with formal gardens, a large Glasshouse, the historic Old Laboratory and RHS Hilltop, its home of gardening science. There are several places to eat and a large garden centre on site.
Ancient commons recorded in the Domesday Book, with grassland plains, old oak woods and ponds. The London Natural History Society has surveyed its wildlife since 1941, making it one of the most closely studied sites in the country.
Photo: MartynDavies, CC BY-SA 3.0A museum of motoring and aviation on the site of the world's first purpose-built race track, spread over 32 acres in Weybridge. You can look round racing cars, motorcycles and an aircraft park, go inside Concorde on a guided tour, and visit the London Bus Museum on the same ticket.
Photo: Supermac1961 from CHAFFORD HUNDRED, England, CC BY 2.0A Mercedes-Benz visitor centre on part of the old Brooklands circuit, with three floors of cars, classic models, simulators and driving displays, and free entry. It sits beside Brooklands Museum, so the two make an easy day together.
Photo of Weybridge: David Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0An Elmbridge Council park on Sopwith Drive in Weybridge, with traditional and natural play areas, a skate park, BMX tracks and a multi-use court. It is in the same Brooklands area as Brooklands Museum and Mercedes-Benz World.
Photo: Jim Osley, CC BY-SA 2.0A National Trust stretch of the River Wey Navigation, opened in 1653, where it passes Pyrford Lock and the Anchor pub. The Walsham length runs from here towards Send with RHS Wisley as a backdrop, and a 7-mile circular walk links the Wey with the Basingstoke Canal.
Photo: Hugh Venables, CC BY-SA 2.0A Jockey Club racecourse in Esher hosting jump racing through the winter and flat racing from spring, including the Tingle Creek Festival in December. Racedays draw families as well as racing fans.
Photo of Cobham: Stacey Harris, CC BY-SA 2.0Painshill runs outdoor sessions for children over half-term in its 18th-century landscape garden. Whispers in the Woods is an interactive storytelling tree walk with woodland characters, and Woodland Hideouts has children building a den from natural materials.
Parkside School's fireworks night opens to the wider community after its early-bird period, with a bonfire, fire pit and music before the display. The school's caterers serve hot food and there is a bar with cocktails.
Photo of Esher: David Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0Children find out whether they have what it takes to be an official Christmas elf on a trail around Claremont's lake. They get an elf name, track down Father Christmas's reindeer and do some elf fitness training.
Photo of Esher: David Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0Garson Farm's pick-your-own pumpkin event has a circus theme for 2026, with carnival-style games and decorated photo scenes among thousands of pumpkins of every shape and size.
Wisley's half-term looks at the spooky side of plants, from poisonous species to plants with old healing legends. Families can follow a trail, plant herbs to take home and meet snakes and spiders with Zoolab.
The RHS lights up its flagship garden after dark, with a 'field of fire', giant crocuses, a fairy village in the Rock Garden and an illuminated enchanted garden in the Glasshouse. Two light shows set to music run along the route.
Photo of Weybridge: David Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0Brooklands marks the centenary of Britain's first Grand Prix with a new detective trail for half-term, The Grand Prix Mystery, performed in two scenes round the museum. Families can also take a short Concorde tour, ride a vintage bus and see the new Grand Prix exhibition.
Photo of Weybridge: David Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0Cleves School PTA's annual fireworks night in Weybridge, with a funfair and food and drink alongside the display. All proceeds go to the school.
Photo of Weybridge: David Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands adds Halloween activities to its usual displays over half-term. Children can hunt for hidden pumpkins round the building, paint a spooky ceramic tea light holder and try face painting.
Photo: Len Williams, CC BY-SA 2.0A Grade II listed early 19th-century watermill on the River Mole, restored by volunteers after decades of neglect and now the only fully working watermill in Surrey. On open days the team mills corn and shows a short film about the restoration.
Photo of Esher: David Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0A farm in West End, Esher, with a garden centre, farm shop and restaurant, and a 150-acre pick your own farm growing fruit, vegetables and flowers in season. Autumn brings a ticketed pumpkin event in the fields.
The Royal Horticultural Society's flagship garden, just off the A3 north of Guildford, with formal gardens, a large Glasshouse, the historic Old Laboratory and RHS Hilltop, its home of gardening science. There are several places to eat and a large garden centre on site.
Photo: MartynDavies, CC BY-SA 3.0A museum of motoring and aviation on the site of the world's first purpose-built race track, spread over 32 acres in Weybridge. You can look round racing cars, motorcycles and an aircraft park, go inside Concorde on a guided tour, and visit the London Bus Museum on the same ticket.
Photo: Supermac1961 from CHAFFORD HUNDRED, England, CC BY 2.0A Mercedes-Benz visitor centre on part of the old Brooklands circuit, with three floors of cars, classic models, simulators and driving displays, and free entry. It sits beside Brooklands Museum, so the two make an easy day together.
Photo: Hugh Venables, CC BY-SA 2.0A Jockey Club racecourse in Esher hosting jump racing through the winter and flat racing from spring, including the Tingle Creek Festival in December. Racedays draw families as well as racing fans.
Photo: Len Williams, CC BY-SA 2.0A Grade II listed early 19th-century watermill on the River Mole, restored by volunteers after decades of neglect and now the only fully working watermill in Surrey. On open days the team mills corn and shows a short film about the restoration.
Photo: David Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0A 360-hectare patchwork of woodland, heathland and wetland stretching from Esher to Cobham and from Oxshott to West End, managed by Elmbridge Council. The commons are a Site of Special Scientific Interest for their rare butterflies, beetles and reptiles.
Photo: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0More than 800 acres of heathland and woodland beside RHS Garden Wisley, now joined by the Cockrow Heathland Bridge, the first heathland bridge in the UK. Trails lead to the restored 1822 Semaphore Tower on Chatley Heath and the hidden Samuelson Mausoleum.
Ancient commons recorded in the Domesday Book, with grassland plains, old oak woods and ponds. The London Natural History Society has surveyed its wildlife since 1941, making it one of the most closely studied sites in the country.
Photo: Supermac1961 from CHAFFORD HUNDRED, England, CC BY 2.0A Mercedes-Benz visitor centre on part of the old Brooklands circuit, with three floors of cars, classic models, simulators and driving displays, and free entry. It sits beside Brooklands Museum, so the two make an easy day together.
Photo of Weybridge: David Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0An Elmbridge Council park on Sopwith Drive in Weybridge, with traditional and natural play areas, a skate park, BMX tracks and a multi-use court. It is in the same Brooklands area as Brooklands Museum and Mercedes-Benz World.
