What to do near Woodcote Park

A day at the races is literally next door, with the Captain’s Drive through the Woodcote Park estate taking you directly to the doorstep of the famous Surrey racecourse. Put your bets on and soak up the atmosphere of the popular Epsom Races.

Founded in 1904 as the only gallery in the UK devoted to a single artist, Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village offers a unique insight into the life and work of ‘England’s Michelangelo’ G F Watts and his wife, the designer and artist Mary Watts.

For the little ones, and the adventurous adults, Chessington World of Adventures is just down the road. With a theme park, zoo and Sea Life Centre, plus a range of activities, there is something to keep family members of all ages occupied.

The site of the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit and, in 1926, the first British Grand Prix (which was organised by the Club), Brooklands is a legendary motor sport venue and now home to a world-class museum. Largely taken over by aircraft manufacturing in the mid-20th century, Brooklands is as embedded in the flying world as it is in motoring, with all manner of historic planes – from a Sopwith Camel to Concorde – on display alongside an extraordinary collection of automobiles, motorbikes, exhibition displays and immersive experiences.

Also on the site of the old Brooklands circuit, but rather more future-facing in its outlook, is Mercedes-Benz World, a high-tech celebration of all-things-Mercedes. At its core are driving experiences around both an extensive handling circuit and a 10-acre off-road course, with both Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG vehicles. For those really wanting to put pedal to the metal, there is the AMG Advanced Driving Academy of intensive power and extreme handling. For the younger members of your family without even a driving licence, there are also driving experiences for anyone over 1.5m tall.

The UK’s largest wine estate, with 265 acres under vines, lies across the chalk hills of the North Downs, near Dorking. The estate includes an extensive visitors’ centre with a range of tasting experiences and vineyard tours available. For members wishing to take advantage of the produce, Denbies is an eight-mile cycle ride from Woodcote Park or well within taxi range.

The opera company arrived in Surrey, having been uprooted from its original Hampshire home, in 2015. It promptly built a fantastical five-storey opera house, modelled on La Scala in Milan, in the grounds of West Horsley Place, the magnificent 17th century country house east of Guildford. If you are aged 35 or under there are tickets available for selected performances for just £35.00.

The flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society is one of the most impressive and beautiful attractions in the South East, whether you are especially green-fingered or not. A hub of scientific innovation and enormous horticultural creativity, highlights include the spectacular glasshouse, the historic laboratory, the Battleston Hill plantation, the Rock Garden and the Exotic Garden, which opened in 2017.

The architects of our Pall Mall clubhouse, Mewès and Davies, were commissioned to remodel this spectacular Edwardian mansion after society hostess Margaret Greville became the owner in 1906. The original house was built in 1824 by Thomas Cubitt but the estate dates back to the 14th Century. It is set in some of the most beautiful countryside in the South of England, so take your walking boots with you if you fancy taking advantage of the way-marked walks across the estate.