Cities start off small and just expand. That’s why in the heart of London there is a place called the City of London. But the London of today spreads far and wide – and outside its current boundaries there is countryside. You don’t have to drive far to be in what might be called real England, a place of farms and villages, cottages and country estates.
That is why it can be good to hire a country-type car, a four-wheel drive vehicle that can take you anywhere: with a 4×4 hire London is just the starting point.
Let’s start off to the south of the city, and an easy way to do it is to follow signs for Gatwick airport. You don’t want a day trip to an airport, but the signs are there, right in the middle of town, so if you like to navigate the old fashioned way, this will have you out of the city streets and suburbs and into England’s green and pleasant land in a trice.
Brighton is an obvious destination. This famous seaside town is a bit like a miniature London, with plenty of shops and things to do. Wander through the bohemian area known as The Lanes and linger in a classic old tea shop while the busy world rages on elsewhere.
Most people find themselves drawn to the beach, which consists of small pebbles rather than sand. In summer it will be full of people indulging in the simple pastime of doing not very much, just sunbathing and swimming.
But there are other seaside towns, and you might like to have a look at Peacehaven or Worthing. This being the coast closest to France, it was where invaders came, and the famous Battle of Hastings took place not far away.
East of London there is coastline too. Essex is the county you’ll be starting from, and you’ll find Clacton and Frinton and Walton-on-Thames, which tells you this is close to the capital.
Between Essex and Sussex you will find the county of Kent, the Garden of England. Depending on the season, you could spend a few hours picking cherries or strawberries, enjoying a taste of a very different lifestyle.
Or you could have a look around Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, one of the six wives of Henry VIII. The UK has a lot of history and much of it happened around here.
Head west from London and you’re going towards Wales, which is well worth a trip if you have time. Or you could have a day in historic Bristol. Bear in mind, though, that if you’re out for a day trip only, you had better not go too far. As tempting as it is to go to the south-west and see the smugglers’ county, Cornwall, that is quite a drive and you might want to stay overnight.
To the north of London: well, there is plenty to do, because the rest of the UK lies this way. Before you get too far up the motorway, maybe enjoy Hertfordshire. St Albans Cathedral is a fascinating place, or you could cruise around the Cotswolds, a quintessentially English area of farmland and hoe of the rich and famous.
So, with a 4×4 London is your case and the world is your oyster.
