Photo: Stacey Harris, CC BY-SA 2.0Oxted sits under the North Downs near the Kent border, with Limpsfield Common for woodland walks and Titsey Place and its estate a short drive north.
A Woodland Trust wood of ancient broadleaved woodland, newer planting and rare chalk grassland high on the North Downs. A waymarked walk leads through, with spring flowers, summer butterflies and strong autumn colour.
Photo: Anthony Whitworth, CC BY-SA 3.0A historic estate under the North Downs near Oxted, dating back to the mid-16th century, with a manor house shown by guided tour, a Victorian walled kitchen garden, a rose garden and lakes. Around 500 acres of estate woodland have trails open to walkers outside the summer season too.
Photo of Oxted: Stacey Harris, CC BY-SA 2.0An ancient common on the Greensand Ridge with heathland, beech woods and a stretch of old Roman road, once used by commoners for grazing and collecting stone and firewood. Its open, mostly flat spaces suit family picnics, and the woods fill with bluebells in spring.
Photo: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0A small family vineyard on a south-facing slope at the foot of the North Downs, growing Seyval Blanc and Bacchus for traditional-method sparkling wine. On open days The Terrace serves wine with platters of local cheese and charcuterie, under the vines or indoors in poor weather.
A 150-acre family farm on the A25 east of Godstone, run by farmer Patrick Deeley and his daughters. It sells its own meat, eggs, Jersey milk and honey through a farm shop, butchery and deli, and serves breakfasts, lunches and cakes in its bistro and tea rooms.
A farm park near junction 6 of the M25 with animal trails, a reptile house and daily hands-on animal sessions, plus a large indoor soft play barn and outdoor adventure play. A walking dinosaur trail and seasonal events run through the year.
Photo: David Anstiss, CC BY-SA 2.0A quiet ancient woodland near the Kent border, part of a Local Nature Reserve, with a small grassland area and a pond. Three self-guided trails wind through the trees, and the wood is known for its bluebells in spring and colour in autumn.
A small volunteer-run museum of local history, archaeology and geology in a Victorian flint building in Caterham, open since 1980. Four rooms include a Victorian room, a children's room and finds from Roman and medieval East Surrey, plus a special exhibition that changes several times a year.
Photo: Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0A parish church mentioned in the Domesday Book, known far beyond Surrey for the 12th-century wall painting that covers much of its west wall. It stands beside Happy Valley and Farthing Downs, so it fits well into a downland walk.
A 21-hectare wetland reserve along the Redhill Brook, part of the Nutfield Marshes, a chain of wetlands restored from old sand workings between the North Downs and the Greensand Ridge. A footpath crosses the site, and in winter the brook can flood it into one large lake.
A family farm estate near Redhill with a farm shop and butchery, garden centre and gift barn, set in 150 acres of pasture, ancient woodland and lakes. Its Discovery Land is a waymarked family nature trail through woods and meadows and around the lakes, with seasonal themes.
Photo: Tom Walsingham, CC BY-SA 2.0A racecourse set among Surrey woodland, opened in 1890 by the Prince of Wales and one of only a few British courses with both turf and all-weather racing. It also hosts live music nights, fireworks and fairs.
A collection of more than 40 native British species, from harvest mice to red deer, kept in settings that reflect their natural habitats. Keeper talks every half hour are the best way to see the animals up close, including in the nocturnal house and observation badger sett.
Photo: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0A historic parkland laid out by Capability Brown with Edwardian gardens, on a private estate owned by the Royal Alexandra and Albert School and opened by the Gatton Trust on monthly open days. Visitors enter through Gatton Hall, where refreshments are served in the ballroom overlooking the park.
Photo of Oxted: Stacey Harris, CC BY-SA 2.0Oxted's amateur dramatic society brings its New Year family panto to the Barn Theatre, a version of Ali Baba by Ben Crocker. The cast of thieves keeps shrinking, and there is a camel looking for a name.
Godstone Farm runs a Halloween programme through both weeks of half-term, included with a day ticket to the farm park. Expect a mystery trail, crafts, creepy crawly sessions and a pumpkin patch for carving, alongside the soft play and animals.
A sensory-friendly evening for families who want fireworks without the loud bangs. Low-noise fireworks and lasers close an evening of fire acts, stilt walkers and a kids' disco, with after-hours use of the farm's soft play barn.
Families meet Father Christmas in his cabin, make a wish in the Wish Room and choose a gift from his workshop. Daytime tickets add Jingle and Jangle's Christmas show, cookie decorating and a full day on the farm and in its large soft play barn.
Caterham and District Round Table's fireworks have moved to St John's School after more than 40 years at Dene Field. There is no bonfire this year, so the money has gone into a larger choreographed display by Pains Fireworks, with a funfair, food and a bar.
Caterham Valley Parish Council holds a Christmas market on Croydon Road with the switch-on of the valley's Christmas lights.
Knights' Chelsham garden centre hosts Santa for a weekend in November, with real reindeer on the Sunday and ponies to meet on the Saturday. Breakfast with Santa runs at Chelsham and Woldingham through December.
Discovery Land's outdoor play trail gets a Halloween makeover as the character Brother Hay opens a School of Trickery. Children complete trick training stops through woodland and meadows to earn a trickster rank.
Priory Farm has grown pumpkins since 1986 and this year planted 65,000 seeds across 12 acres, with 27 varieties. Visitors can drive to the field and pick their own, or ride out on a tractor and trailer from Discovery Land.
Photo: Anthony Whitworth, CC BY-SA 3.0A historic estate under the North Downs near Oxted, dating back to the mid-16th century, with a manor house shown by guided tour, a Victorian walled kitchen garden, a rose garden and lakes. Around 500 acres of estate woodland have trails open to walkers outside the summer season too.
Photo: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0A small family vineyard on a south-facing slope at the foot of the North Downs, growing Seyval Blanc and Bacchus for traditional-method sparkling wine. On open days The Terrace serves wine with platters of local cheese and charcuterie, under the vines or indoors in poor weather.
A 150-acre family farm on the A25 east of Godstone, run by farmer Patrick Deeley and his daughters. It sells its own meat, eggs, Jersey milk and honey through a farm shop, butchery and deli, and serves breakfasts, lunches and cakes in its bistro and tea rooms.
A farm park near junction 6 of the M25 with animal trails, a reptile house and daily hands-on animal sessions, plus a large indoor soft play barn and outdoor adventure play. A walking dinosaur trail and seasonal events run through the year.
A small volunteer-run museum of local history, archaeology and geology in a Victorian flint building in Caterham, open since 1980. Four rooms include a Victorian room, a children's room and finds from Roman and medieval East Surrey, plus a special exhibition that changes several times a year.
Photo: Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0A parish church mentioned in the Domesday Book, known far beyond Surrey for the 12th-century wall painting that covers much of its west wall. It stands beside Happy Valley and Farthing Downs, so it fits well into a downland walk.
A Woodland Trust wood of ancient broadleaved woodland, newer planting and rare chalk grassland high on the North Downs. A waymarked walk leads through, with spring flowers, summer butterflies and strong autumn colour.
Photo of Oxted: Stacey Harris, CC BY-SA 2.0An ancient common on the Greensand Ridge with heathland, beech woods and a stretch of old Roman road, once used by commoners for grazing and collecting stone and firewood. Its open, mostly flat spaces suit family picnics, and the woods fill with bluebells in spring.
Photo: David Anstiss, CC BY-SA 2.0A quiet ancient woodland near the Kent border, part of a Local Nature Reserve, with a small grassland area and a pond. Three self-guided trails wind through the trees, and the wood is known for its bluebells in spring and colour in autumn.
A small volunteer-run museum of local history, archaeology and geology in a Victorian flint building in Caterham, open since 1980. Four rooms include a Victorian room, a children's room and finds from Roman and medieval East Surrey, plus a special exhibition that changes several times a year.
Photo: Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0A parish church mentioned in the Domesday Book, known far beyond Surrey for the 12th-century wall painting that covers much of its west wall. It stands beside Happy Valley and Farthing Downs, so it fits well into a downland walk.
A 21-hectare wetland reserve along the Redhill Brook, part of the Nutfield Marshes, a chain of wetlands restored from old sand workings between the North Downs and the Greensand Ridge. A footpath crosses the site, and in winter the brook can flood it into one large lake.
