Best Surrey Picnic Places
Surrey is among the most naturally beautiful counties in the UK. An Eden of pretty villages and scenic spaces, it is the perfect setting for a scrumptious picnic. We’ve compiled a list of all the best places to visit on your Surrey campervan hire road trip. Be prepared, it’s pretty damn wholesome.
At Buttercup Bus we’re pretty familiar with a good-old day out, and we don’t think there’s anywhere better for this than Surrey…
Packed full of fun for all the family, it’s the perfect scenic-filled setting for a delicious picnic! Let us take you through our top picks for places to visit on your road trip!
Claremont Landscape Gardens
Number one on our list is the historic and charming Claremont Landscape Gardens in Esher.
The gardens are part of the Claremont House estate which was built in the 18th century for Princess Charlotte, the wife of future King George III, and was thereafter used as the countryside retreat for future Queens of England.
The gardens still exhibit their original 18th-century layout and include some truly gorgeous features such as a large turf amphitheatre, serpentine Lake and a grotto, making for a wonderfully picturesque area to lay down your picnic blanket!
The gardens also include a load of family fun, with plenty of activities to take part in. The amphitheatre often welcomes theatre companies during the summer, and there are plenty of amazing tours and walks available to discover more about the estate and its long history, as well as the marvellous nature on view.
Claremont Landscape Gardens are now run by the National Trust and are only a stone’s throw away from London. Dogs are welcome and there is ample car parking space (or camper parking space!) available!
Visit the National trust’s website to find out more!
Frensham Great Pond
Our second pick is Frensham Great Pond, which you’ll find between Farnham and Hindhead.
It is a great example of open Surrey heathland and is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, covering over 900 acres and being one of the largest areas in the Weald.
The area offers dry and wet heath, and also woodland and scrubs – perfect for any walk or picnic in the wilderness!
Wildlife is also plentiful, there being several species of reptiles and birds such as Nightjars and Stonechats on view – exactly what the doctor ordered for all the nature lovers out there!
Swimming is allowed in the pond, although there are a few rules to follow which you can find on the Waverley Borough Council website.
All in all, another marvellous Surrey picnic spot!
Box Hill
Only an hour or so’s drive away from London, Box Hill is another top choice for a Surrey picnic.
As part of the North Downs, it is an area of outstanding natural beauty, with fantastic views of the surrounding countryside.
Run by the National Trust, Box Hill is made up of woodland and chalk downland and is the perfect environment for long walks and hikes, with the area being abundant in wildlife and plants such as the Adonis blue butterfly and bee orchid.
There are also plenty of activities to enjoy, including guided walks around the surrounding woodland, and children’s trails and summer games to keep the little ones occupied!
Dogs are more than welcome and there is ample parking available!
To find out more, visit the National Trust’s website.
FUN FACT: As well as being a prime Surrey picnic spot, Box Hill also hosted part of the 2012 Olympics road cycling event!
Woking Park
Woking Park is another great place to take yourself for a lovely Surrey picnic.
Historically owned by the Brettell family, they gave the park to the town of Woking in 1902 on the condition that the land would be used as a public park, walking ground and pleasure ground, paving the way for the modern park we see today.
The area includes two wildlife ponds with decking viewing areas that contain some rare and common wildlife.
The park also includes several leisure attractions such as multi-use game areas, skateparks, tennis courts and a swimming pool – perfect for any family day out and tons of fun!
For more information on all the amazing activities available, go to the Visit Surrey Website.
A Classic Camper – The Perfect Companion
Surrey is an amazing place, and with so much to do, you’ll need a way to get yourself and the family around! Of course, you could take your car, but why not make your day out that bit more special by hiring one of our Classic VW Campers?
Based in the Surrey area, we offer a wide variety of services, including a holiday hire service that includes day hire.
Road-tripping in a classic camper is the perfect way to get around – adding a little more freedom to your trip, and maybe a little nostalgia to your Surrey picnic too!
To find out more about our services and how to book, visit our holiday hire page on www.buttercupbus.com.
We can’t wait to make your camper (and Surrey picnic) dreams a reality!
Gallery
Here are a few pictures of our amazing campers on their holidays! Image credits to: @julieskeltonphoto
About the author
Nathalie
I’m Nathalie, a mother with two little ones who love going out in the campers – be it a trip to the supermarket, or a holiday by the coast! My experience is pretty mixed… I studied to become an anatomist, wore a white coat and was a bit nifty with a scalpel when it came to dissections… but somehow ended up working for a software company and then specialised as a business consultant (for 15 years), gaining useful skills to set up my own company Buttercup Bus Vintage Campers… I love to eat cheese – the smellier and mouldier the better… hate ironing, have a handbag filled with lipstick and spanners… and I have a passion for all things VW…