Fancy a wild camping adventure on the very fringes of London? Then it’s time to discover tree-shrouded Aldersroot, set on five acres of leafy land between Ongar and Brentwood, half an hour by car and 40 minutes by public transport from the centre of the city. The campsite is completely off grid and its eco-credentials are pretty high; it’s solar powered for a low impact on the planet, and careful permaculture design techniques have been used to create the pond and young forest gardens. All profit from the campsite is lovingly ploughed (almost literally) back into the land. This wild corner of suburbia offers a space to relax and simply exist in private, or you can get together with fellow campers around the communal fire, try kayaking and paddleboarding (bring your own board) . There are a few rules to aid the smooth running of the place: while it’s a resounding yes to music and fun on site, Aldersroot is drug and alcohol free. And as it’s a functioning farm with livestock, kids and dogs are not allowed to stay.

We’re a working small farm practising the principles of permaculture, earthcare, peoplecare, fairshare. Just over 30 minutes from central London, come and experience offgrid living amongst the wildlife and farm animals.

There’s a fair amount of history to digest in this leafy corner of Essex. You can learn about all things industrial at The Museum of Power (40 minutes’ drive), housed in an up-cycled 18th-century water-pumping station, or witness life in Cold War bunkers at Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker (five minutes’ drive). Have a nose around the 17th-century pottery finds and Victorian landscape paintings at Epping Forest District Museum (half an hour), and check the haphazard opening hours at Valence House Museum (35 minutes) before visiting – it’s well worth the trip to see the moated manor house, period rooms and gardens full of wildflowers. Keeping up the cultural theme, visit The Gibberd Garden (half an hour), where avenues of trees lead to an eccentric sculpture trail featuring the best of British artists – and when it’s just a peaceful country walk you’re after, try the trails through Bobbingworth Nature Reserve (10 minutes), built on a former landfill siteMust see Lee Valley Regional Park 11.1 mi RHS Garden Hyde Hall 13.3 mi Discover 14.7 mi Greenwich Heritage Centre 14.8 mi Firepower - The Royal Artillery Museum 15.7 mi National Trust Rainham Hall 11.3 mi Eastbury Manor House 12 mi Sutton House 16.1 mi Red House 16.2 mi St John's Jerusalem 18.4 mi Cycle routes Find - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes. Other WEALD PARK 3.3 mi BLAKE HALL 3.7 mi HILL HALL 4.8 mi WARLEY PLACE 5.5 mi COOPERSALE HOUSE 5.9 mi Local events All Points East (Friday, 22 August 2025 – Friday, 22 August 2025) London, Greater London 16.4 mi