Bank holiday breakaway just a stone's throw from London

THE COTSWOLDS

Where 2 hours from London.

What to do Browse the antiques shops of Stow-on-the-Wold, see the RSC’s Titus Andronicus in Stratford-upon-Avon or explore the extensive tree and plant collections at Batsford Arboretum. If you’re in the mood for magnificence, visit Sudeley Castle and Ragley Hall; for a smaller-scale wander, head for Burford, Bourton-on-the-Water or Moreton-in-Marsh (you’re nothing without a hyphen in the Cotswolds).

Where to eat Daylesford Organic Farmshop in Kingham has been producing the freshest of food for 30 years. Book a cookery or yoga class here before sampling the garden vegetable crudités with hot Cheddar dip. Two-Michelin-starred British cuisine is served at Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham. Try the seared scallops, carpaccio of pig’s head and pickled pear purée.

Where to stay Lower Slaughter Manor, a 17th-century manor house with 19 rooms and fine dining at the Sixteen58 restaurant. Doubles from £225 per night including full English breakfast. (lowerslaughter.co.uk)

WEST SUSSEX

Where 1¼ hours from London.

What to do Amid the rolling green pastures, open spaces and ancient woodlands of the South Downs (above), take a guided tour of Bolney Wine Estate near Haywards Heath, where you can sip some English wine straight from the barrel. For literary junkies, the hallowed Bloomsbury sites of Rodmell, Charleston and Berwick Church in East Sussex are within easy striking distance. And if, like John Masefield, you must go down to the seas again, Brighton is only a 45-minute drive away.

Where to eat The town of Horsham sports two Michelin-starred restaurants. At the Pass Restaurant at South Lodge Hotel you can sample an eight-course menu tailored to your tastes. Go to Tristan’s for the squab pigeon, spelt and braised shallot. For something less flashy visit Jeremy’s Restaurant, nestled in the Borde Hill Gardens, for its six-course British tasting menu, available at weekends on special request.

Where to stay Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa in Cuckfield, an Elizabethan manor with 28 bedrooms and suites and a Michelin-starred restaurant. Doubles from £190 per night, breakfast not included. (hshotels.co.uk/ockenden-manor-hotel-and-spa)

NORTH NORFOLK

Where 3 hours from London.

What to do North Norfolk’s coastline, dotted with wild beaches and Victorian seaside towns, gives its visitors plenty of options. Practise your swing at the Royal West Norfolk Golf Club and your sailing at Brancaster Staithe, or head for the wonderful 18th-century Holkham Hall with its walled gardens, deer park and lake kayaking. Even if you don’t visit the hall, take a walk along Holkham beach, four miles of golden sands and pine woods that featured in the final scene of Shakespeare in Love.

Where to eat For the finest local produce visit Burnham Market, a picture-postcard market village renowned for its high-quality delicatessens and 16th-century coaching inn turned gastropub, The Hoste. Try Gurneys Fish Shop for fresh Brancaster crabs and Humble Pie for homemade chutneys and Neal’s Yard Cheeses.

Where to stay Titchwell Manor boutique hotel, a former Victorian farmhouse with 27 bedrooms and two restaurants: The Eating Rooms, an informal dining area with a seaview terrace, and the Conservatory Restaurant. Doubles from £115 per night. (titchwellmanor.com)