Road trip days out from London: south

From here, head along the north side of Clapham Common and down Wandsworth High Street to join the A3. By the time you get to Tippetts Corner you will meet dual carriageway and away you go…

Come off the A3 at Tolworth roundabout and take the first main exit, for the A240 towards Epsom. Suburban London turns into leafy Surrey as you go through Epsom, Ashtead and head towards Leatherhead. Having followed the signs taking a ring road south of Leatherhead town centre, continue along the A24 for two and half more miles. Here the road curves, following the Mole River valley through the Surrey Hills.

Maintained by the National Trust, Box Hill is one of the first major high points on a route out to the south west. While you’re here, seek out the Stepping Stones and make sure you take in the views at the summit of Box Hill itself.

Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 7LB.

Back on the road, continue south, following signs for Dorking. At Denbies roundabout take the third exit onto Bradley Lane and follow road up to Denbies Wine Estate’s main building.

Established in 1986, the vineyard has produced award-winning wines and was the first British producer to earn a gold medal for a rosé. You can take tours of the estate and, if you didn’t picnic on Box Hill a la Emma, stop for a light lunch here.

London Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6AA.

Heading south again on the A24 just a few minutes to Dorking, then head west along the A25 towards Shalford and Godalming to finish your day before looping back to London.

At Albery Park, take the left hand turn towards the Albery Estate, and follow the main road (A248) through Chilworth. The country lanes along here are very pretty, but watch the road signs so you don’t get lost! Follow signs for Shalford and then Godalming, turning left onto the A3100 and then right onto the B3000.

Along the B3000 you have a choice – stop off at the gardens and stately home Loseley Park (yes, as in the ice cream) or continue for another ten minutes before turning right onto Down Lane to visit Watts Gallery Artists’ Village.

The SATNAV for Loseley Park is Stakescorner Road, GU3 1HS.

Surrey has many fabulous examples of Arts & Crafts architecture, and this gallery, built to house the collection of artist GF Watts, is a gem. You can explore the Victorian paintings and sculpture in the beautiful Gallery, take tea in the Tea Shop and find out more about the bohemian artists’ circle that formed here around Watts and his wife Mary. The Grade I listed Watts Chapel, the Studios and the artists’ home (Limnerslease) are all worth exploring, as is the woodland, and there is art on sale in the Pottery Building.

Down Lane, Compton, Surrey, GU3 1DQ.

Take the lane back to the B3000, turn right and you soon come to the A3 which will bring you back to London.