Off M4 J12 - approximately 7 miles/15 minutes
With over 400 acres of parkland to explore, Basildon Park is the ideal spot for a leg stretch. First built in the 18th century, the house passed through the hands of several owners and was requisitioned during both World Wars, until the 1950s brought about a change of fortune. The estate was purchased by Lord and Lady Iliffe, who set about restoring Basildon to its full glory. Today you can wander through the beautiful rooms admiring Old Masters paintings, explore the pleasure gardens or run wild in the parkland with its year-round seasonal colour.