Denbies Wine Estate

The South Downs chalk slopes near Tadworth produce something genuinely surprising - proper English wine. Denbies Wine Estate is England's largest vineyard, spread across 265 acres of south-facing hillside where the soil and microclimate actually work. You can visit the vineyard itself, tour the winery to see how they actually make it happen, and taste the results in their tasting room. The views across the Surrey Hills are the real draw, mind you - rolling chalk grassland that looks more like the Côte d'Or than the Home Counties.

It works best if you're serious about wine. Casual visitors might find it a bit earnest, but anyone who enjoys talking terroir and comparing vintages will spend a proper afternoon here. There's a restaurant and shop, so you're not rushed through. The vines themselves look rather beautiful in summer, and if you're walking the South Downs Way or exploring nearby Norbury Park or Polesden Lacey, this adds something different to a Surrey Hills trip.

Expect to spend two to three hours if you're doing a full tour and tasting. Access from Tadworth is straightforward. It's well worth combining with walks in Surrey Hills National Landscape just down the road - the estate sits on the chalk, so the walking country around it is first-rate. Not every holiday park visitor will care about wine, but if you do, this saves a drive to Sussex.