Place to Visit near gatwick??

[Im a BusyBee]

We are dropping our son off at gatwick airport early sunday morning, travelling from suffolk, can anyone think of somewhere of interest to stop on way back for few hours? thought we could make the most of travelling that distance instead of returning straight home. i realise its a bank holiday sunday and everywhere will be heaving we are interested in all the 'usual' places of interest. Thanx

[NORMANTHEDOG]

you could allways go to bluewater or lakeside shopping centres,if your that way inclined,they are both off the m25 on your way back home.

[vehelpfulguy]

Are you interested in gardens or country houses (or both)?

There are a few great gardens nears Gatwick.

Wakehirst Place, a partner garden with Kew Gardens
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/visitor/visitwp.html

The National Trsu have some great places around that area
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/

Sheffield Park Garden is one NT garden
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-vi sits/w-findaplace/w-sheffieldparkgarden/

Nymans is another NT garden
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-vi sits/w-findaplace/w-nymansgarden/

The English Heritage also have a lot of interesting properties such as castles etc

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/

[Im a BusyBee]

thanks for answers, afraid we not shoppers - unless i have something im particularly in need of! will look at links with hubby tonight, would be interested in castles/stately homes thanx again.

[Buenchico]

I live in Suffolk and I've often dropped people off at Gatwick before going on to enjoy the rest of the day. My absolute number one favourite place has to be Brighton, which is just 28 miles from Gatwick Airport. (If you don't fancy driving, you can leave the car at Gatwick Airport and hop on a train).

Brighton's star attraction has to be the Royal Pavilion, which is probably the most opulently furnished building in England!
http://www.royalpavilion.org.uk/
Preston Manor is worth a look as well.

If you don't want to go to the far side of Gatwick Airport, then a slight detour to your return route will take you to Hever Castle:
http://www.hever-castle.co.uk/
or Chartwell:
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-vi sits/w-findaplace/w-chartwell/

For somewhere that's distinctly different to anywhere else, but full of history, head off the M25 for Chatham's Historic Dockyard:
http://www.chdt.org.uk/

Chris

[spudqueen]

http://www.bordehill.co.uk/
is about 20 minutes from Gatwick.

[hugnie21]

I'd second the suggestions for Wakehurst Place gardens and Hever Castle. Brighton is great but it will be VERY busy on a bank holiday weekend. Unless you get there very early getting into Brighton down the A23 and then finding somewhere to park will probably be a nightmare.