Sawbridgeworth

There's something oddly appealing about this East Hertfordshire market town that never quite made it onto the tourist trail. Sawbridgeworth sits quietly between the Lee Valley and the sprawling new towns that surround it, keeping its head down while commuters rush past on their way to London. The town centre has that slightly forgotten feel of places that thrived before the M25 changed everything - though that's part of its charm.

Walk the high street on a Tuesday morning and you'll find proper independent shops still holding their ground. The weekly market brings a bit of life to the square, and the pubs do a decent job of serving the locals. It's not going to set your world alight, but there's an honesty to the place that's rather refreshing.

Harlow sits just down the road - a proper contrast with its modernist architecture and planned town layout. The Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens makes for an interesting afternoon, and you'll find some surprisingly good cultural spots like Solo Flight gallery tucked away in the new town's concrete maze.

What really draws people here is the countryside access. The Lee Valley stretches north and south, offering proper walking and cycling along the old navigation. Roman Temple Site gives you a taste of the area's deep history, while the Canal Boat Project highlights the waterway heritage that once made this corridor so important.

Getting here is straightforward - Sawbridgeworth station puts you on the main line to London Liverpool Street in under 40 minutes. The A1184 connects you to the M25 and beyond. Several holiday parks dot the Lee Valley and surrounding countryside, making this an unexpectedly useful base for exploring both the Hertfordshire countryside and the capital's outer reaches.