Awesome outdoors spot in Essex! This impressive park boasts :…read more - A Bowling Green - Tennis courts - A Children's playground - Two cricket pitches - Five football pitches What more could you ask for?

A nice place that I love to take my 6 year old to in the milder weather…read more The childrens playground has just been modernised with more exciting apparatus for the kids to explore. A word of warning here, this also makes it a magnet for the teenage 'hoodies' who dispite their age still attend the park and often hog the rides as 'there is nothing else for them to do', bless. There is a large duck pond and cricket pitch which is sometimes used by the Essex cricketers for matches. The cafe is a little rundown but is popular and serves hot and cold food upon request. The park has a set of toilets which as expected leave a lot to be desired. There is adequate parking in the immediate area on road and also a carpark which is fairly large.

It's not Priory Park, but it's still a park you should definatly check out…read more Featuring a lake/duck-pond and childrens play areas for the children, and open areas for adults to have a kick-about or to just relax and enjoy the scenery, it's definatly a nice place to waste some time when you've got a lazy day. The cafe is a bit dingy, and although it seems to be rarely open is in major need of an over-haul and renovation from the ground-up. The car park does often fill up quickly during school holidays, so you may very well have to look for alternate parking, especially if you're driving something like a Chelsea Tractor, AKA Land Rover, and need half a mile to park the thing, so it's best to drive around the local area and find an alternate spot, as the provided car-park area is full of people with very poor parking skills it seems.

Recommend an early morning to take in Belfairs Woods, especially now when the weather is ok in fact…read morequite stimulating. The woods are flat and caress an active golf course, as well as a horse riding school. The attraction is the open wooded space, the friendly squirrels and Jay's (bird) both try and hustle us for food, and not a bad thought as we had come pocketful of monkey nuts and yes we were the most welcome bods in the woods this morning. Simply great fun and strangely healthy.

A beautiful open space that is particularly lovely in Autumn. There is adequate parking which is…read morefree. There are a range of facilities at Belfairs including a riding stables and riding for the disabled, a cafe / restaurant, bowls club and pay per use golf. The golf course is the only down-side to walking in these woods - just as you start to feel like you are escaping into the peace of the woods you come across another part of the golf course and have to ensure children don't run out onto the greens - many of the paths go very close. The woods also have bridleways for horses and cycle paths which are signposted and mostly segregated. As others have mentioned there are lots of very tame squirrels.

This has to be one of North London's best kept secrets! I can't believe I had never heard of this…read moregarden (even my dad had not heard of it and he grew up near here.) I assume the lucky locals would like to keep this as a secret treasure, but it is too good not to share with yelpers!! The Pergola and Hill Gardens are hidden between Hampstead Heath and Golders Hill Park. The Pergola half of the garden is essentially a long raised walkway, under a long pergola made from wood and stone, covered in gorgeous smelling roses and other climbing plants. The other half of the garden has a large square pond full of lilies, sculptured hills and nice soft grass to sit on and have a picnic. I have a feeling it could be very busy on nice days...but when we visited it all seemed far quieter than Golders Hill Park - even though it is so, so much nicer. Practicalities: - If you don't want to walk, just take the 210 bus and get off at Inverforth House, you can see the signs to the garden. - It's free (!)

This place is beyond beautiful. I'm always surprised when I find places like this in London that is…read moreopen for the general public with no fee. Tucked away on the smaller side of Hampstead Heath, in between Hampstead Heath and Golders Hill Park is this little Gem. Because it's hidden away it's less busy than both the known green spaces. The pergola goes on and on with hidden entrances to the gardens. The gardens all have walk ways for you to meander through them. I can imagine that this place will get used for many photoshoots. You have to be careful you're not walking into someone else's shot. None of the photos or reviews will EVER do this place justice. Trust me and go see for yourself.

If you want to take a real break in Kent, you MUST go to the Reculver Country Park…read more What is it? A reserve combining undeveloped coast with great views accross the estuary & historic buildings (remains of a roman fort and twin towers of St Mary's Church dominating the coastline). Perfect place for a seashore walk or run when the sun is shinning. I spent a wonderful moment with my family here. This park is also the starting point of the Viking Coastal Trail (http://en.yelp.be/biz/viking-coastal-trail-margate).

It has taken the council long enough to decide what to do with the Bandstand; removed from the…read moreseafront, cliff venue due to danger of cliff slippage, which is understandable. However, this excellent piece of Bandstand was placed in storage for a number of years. Until 2008 that is, the Bandstand has landed again in Priory Park. It's magic is undeniable, whether a large brass band belting out the theme tune Star Trek Next Generation or Saxology playing gorious melodies on a warm Sunday afternoon. This is now definitely a secret venue for the locals; visitors congregate down the seafront looking for the bandstand, saying Southend is not what is used to be without realising it is now tucked away in a calm place away from the noise of a busy seafront.

For me, little more than a local landmark, though I did perform there before the move, it's…read morecertainly something to be treasured amongst the locals, and it's always tranquil at it's current location, and a great spot to meet with friends and perhaps have a lunch outdoors.

An idyllic destination a short drive from London, Painshill Park is a great place to spend a day…read moreenjoying the beauty of the English countryside. Created by the eccentric Charles Hamilton, the park was created as a "romantic landscape". Both organized and naturalistic, the park offers many vistas, perspectives and experiences. Created with a variety of follies dotting the landscape, the park offers panoramic views and interesting scenes. Views from the Gothic Temple and the Turkish Tent are breathtaking. While exploring the man-made grotto (which is currently undergoing renovation) you can't help but be in awe of Hamilton's vision while at the same time thinking "This guy must have been totally out there to build stalactites with lathe and plaster and then cover them in pieces of crystal!". Whether walking the grounds, bringing a blanket and a book and enjoying the solitude, Painshill Park is a wonderful place to visit. Be prepared to walk, as the park is large and very hilly. It's a good climb to the top of the Tower as well. Would definitely recommend this if you need a relaxing afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of London.

A grade 1 listed park, much renovated over the last 25 years, by the trust that owns it…read more Created by Charles Hamilton ,in the mid 18th century, after his 2 (obligatory) Grand Tours, he wanted to create an idyllic natural setting, around a lake, with water diverted from the river Mole. He was very succesful in this, and created a number of follies, a Grotto, and the unusual Turkish Tent. Many of the plants are of American origin, and were just becoming fashionable at the time. It's worth remembering it's a park like setting rather than a garden like Wisley. Reasonable cafe near the entrance, and the ever present gift shop. Worth chcking their website for offers, currently free entry on Wednesdays in November, children free at weekends, and A special Santa event. The Grotto is only open at the weekends. A great place for a walk on a sunny day, great views across the lake and Surrey.

This is a bit of a hidden gem, which I'm really pleased we found. We took a random day trip to…read moreLeigh on Sea and on our way back my boyfriend navigated me on a detour. I'd seen a castle on the map but assumed there would be gates and a fee and seeing as it was early evening I expected it to be closed. My boyfriend knows that I love castles so thought we could chance it. We parked up at the end of a country lane by a cafe, farm and craft village (which had already closed) and took a walk along a pretty footpath. It's only a few minutes walk before you get to the castle, well ruins of, and it's a beautiful sight. It's owned by English Heritage but free for anyone and everyone to visit. There's no visitor centre, gift shop or ticket office which adds to the charm of this place. It's lovely and surrounded by hills and fields so unspoilt. It was dusk when we were there but could read the few unobtrusive signs with the history of the castle. The views to the sea were lovely too. This would be the perfect place for a picnic (make sure you take your rubbish home) out to watch the sun set from. It's not a whole day out but worth a visit if you're in the area. I loved it.

I have visited Hadleigh Castle numerous times since I was a little nipper and I still love to go…read morethere, admittedly the castle is ruinous but it still has great prominence looking out over the estuary. The views from the castle are great looking out over Canvey Island and towards Kent. From this point there is some good walks to be had, from walking to Two Tree Island or walking into Old Leigh and eating some fresh seafood. Or you can just set down a blanket and have a picnic, be warned though it can get a bit windy, but if you tuck yourself up in one of the alcoves of the ruins, it should not be too much of a problem. As the area is quite hilly, it is great for off-road cycling or grab a football or frisbee and play in the open green area. It is also very close to the Salvation Army farm, so a visit to Hadleigh Castle is a great time outdoors for all the family.

Danbury country park is found at the Chelmsford end of Danbury. It has a good sized car park which…read moreI believe is free (you may want to check if this has changed recently). It is a well established park with a range of different areas suitable for most tastes. This includes lawned areas suitable for family picnics, borders with beautiful flowers, as well as wooded area great for a ramble. There are a couple of small lakes in the middle with attract a range of birds. Families are often seen feeding them. If the weather's looking good this would be a great option for an affordable day out.