View from Box Hill
View from Box Hill

Top 10 greenest routes for Londoners 

 

To inspire Londoners to get out and about this Autumn, we've put together the top 10 greenest road trip destinations within an hour of Central London. With a large number of households in the capital not having access to outside space, we wanted to make your green space escape easier than ever. So grab your Zipcar, friends and family and head on out into the Great British countryside. 

 

Box Hill

View from box hill

Box Hill

Distance from London: 45 mins (26.8 miles via A3)

Listed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Box Hill extends across a quarter of the county of Surrey, from Farnham in the west to Oxted in the east. With its diverse landscape, sweeping hills, colourful flowers and magnificent views of the countryside, Box Hill feels a world away from the bustle of London, yet it is just on its doorstep at only 45 minutes away. The infamous Box Hill Hike takes approximately four hours during which hikers will be treated to spectacular views and plenty of lunch options along the way.

Stop off in Addlestone and charge your EV at the Shell Charging Station while you take a 15-minute walk to Chertsey Meads Park.

Saffron Walden

Saffron Walden town hall

Saffron Walden

Distance from London: 58 mins (46.4 miles) 

Located in north-west Essex, Saffron Walden is a picturesque, medieval town with a rich heritage of old buildings and monuments. On the north side of Saffron Walden is the natural charm of Bridge End Garden, which hosts replicated gardening techniques from the Victorian era and a charming maze. The walk into the garden hosts an array of historical galleries including the 1930s Fry Art Gallery making Saffron Walden the perfect weekend escape to get busy Londoners back into nature with a touch of history.  

Stop off in Bishops Stortford and charge your EV at the Gridserve Charging Station while you take a 5-minute walk to Bishops Stortford Golf Club and admire the scenery.

Chiltern Hills

View over the Chiltern Hills

Chiltern Hills

Distance from London: 50 mins (26 miles) 

Listed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Chiltern Hills is located to the northwest of London surrounded by beautiful countryside and grand estates. Known as a quintessentially English countryside, Chiltern Hills has a landscape of beauty, steeped in history that possesses unique cultural heritage features. With 24 square miles of countryside on the doorsteps of London, Chiltern Hills is the perfect location to explore and unwind from busy city life.  

Stop off in Berkhamsted and charge your EV at the Chargemaster Charging Station while you take a 6-minute walk to Berkhamsted Castle. 

Strawberry Hill

Strawberry Hill house

Strawberry Hill

Distance from London: 1 hr (21.1 miles) 

Situated between Twickenham and Teddington, Strawberry Hill houses one of London’s most prestigious mansions. A romantic garden borders Strawberry Hill House to compliment the gothic castle which consists of five-acres of groves, lawns and woodlands perfect for a picnic amongst nature. The garden has been restored to its original appearance using Eighteenth Century maps and paintings as a reminder of the important period in garden history. 

Stop off in Richmond and charge your EV at the Ubitricity Charging Station while you take a 5-minute walk to Richmond Park. 

Great Windsor Park

Great Windsor Park

Great Windsor Park

Distance from London: 58 mins (23.1 miles) 

Located on the northern shores of Virginia Water Lake near the Royal Castle, Windsor Great Park is home to an array of historical forests, stunning wildlife and exotic flowers. Spanning across 2,020 hectares including a deer park and iconic views from the Long Walk, Windsor Great Park is the perfect place for picnics, walking, cycling, horse riding and fishing. At only 50 minutes from the bustle of London, the historic park has left its own distinctive mark on this impressive landscape.  

Stop off in Englefield Green and charge your EV at the MER Charging Station while you take a 20-minute walk to Runnymede Air Forces Memorial.

Kent Downs

View of the white cliffs of dover

Kent Downs

Distance from London: 1 hr (50.6 miles) 

Listed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Kent Downs is a nationally protected landscape stretching from the white cliffs of Dover to the Surrey and London border. Featuring rich wildlife and stunning views accessible by a network of footpaths and bridleways, keen hikers have access to the heart of the countryside with Kent Downs. The area is well known for its scenic countryside, woodland and provides a range of landscapes for city-dwellers looking for a nature escape.  

Stop off in Kent Downs and charge your EV at the Genie Point Charging Station while you take a walk around Standard Quay.  

Surrey Hills

Surrey Hills

Surrey Hills

Distance from London: 1 hr (46.9 miles) 

Listed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Surrey Hills hosts some of England’s most iconic sites including Box Hill, Leith Hill, the Devil’s Punch Bowl and Newlands Corner. Offering beautiful and accessible countryside access for walking, Surrey Hills is perfect for explorers looking to embrace the rolling chalk downs of the woodland and rich grasslands.  

Stop off in Redhill and charge your EV at the MER Charging Station while you take a walk around Redhill High Street or take a stroll along the river at the Moors Nature Reserve.  

High Weald AONB

High weald

High Weald AONB

Distance from London: 58 mins (47.8 miles) 

Designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), High Weald is known as one of England's finest landscapes. Covering 1461 square km of Sussex, Kent and Surrey it is home to a stunning expanse of farms, woodlands and nature reserves. The area conceals over 30 small manor houses, castles and beautiful parks and gardens offering a countryside experience on the doorstep of London. 

Stop off in Tonbridge and charge your EV at the Osprey Charging Station while you take a 5-minute walk to Tonbridge Castle. 

Ashdown Forest

Ashdown forest

Ashdown Forest

Distance from London: 1 hr (42.7 miles) 

The landscape that inspired the idyllic home of Winnie-the-Pooh, Ashdown Forest spans across 6,500 acres in the county of East Sussex. As the largest public open space in the South-East of England, Ashdown Forest is an enchanting woodland offering scenic and relaxing walks through rolling meadows. Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) the unique environment of Ashdown Forest is home to some of Europe’s most threatened species.  

Stop off in Sevenoaks and charge your EV at the Chargemaster Charging Station while you take a 20-minute walk to Knoll Park. 

Hatfield Forest

Hatfield Forest

Hatfield Forest

Distance from London: 54 mins (33.4 miles) 

Located in Essex, Hatfield Forest is a Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest home to over 3,500 species of wildlife. Under an hour from the bustling capital city, Hatfield Forest is the only remaining intact Royal Hunting Forest that dates from the time of the Norman kings. With a historical lake and famous walking routes, the National trust protected forest is a great spot to get back into nature this Autumn.  

Stop off in Harlow and charge your EV at the PodPoint Charging Station while you take a 20-minute walk to The Gibberd Garden. 

Win a two day trip!

Social competition post

Win a two day trip!

Head over to our Instagram page before Sunday 6th November to be in with the chance of winning two days worth of driving credits! All you have to do is share your most recent picture from an adventure you took to get to some green space and tag us, enter by clicking on the link below.

Enter now

Comp Ts & Cs:

Two days of driving credit (48 hours worth) will be awarded at random to those who follow Zipcaruk on Instagram and post a relevant image, tagging the same account and including the hashtag #ZipcarukExplore. Entries between Thursday 20th October 2022 and midnight 6th November 2022 will be counted. No cash alternative, winner must be an approved Zipcar UK member. Winner will be contacted by the official Zipcar UK Instagram account on Monday 7th November 2022.