• Zipcar reports a 25% increase in users travelling to access green spaces outside of London, compared to this time last year
• Zipcar reveals the top 10 routes that will reconnect busy Londoners with the greenest spaces right on their doorstep, all within an hour of the capital
• Londoners also have the chance to win a free round-trip courtesy of Zipcar UK meaning you don’t need to own a car to experience the great outdoors

 

THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER, LONDON, UK: In the UK, Londoners are by far the least likely to have access to a garden and one in five (21%) households in the capital has no outside space[1]. With over 9 million people living in London and amid the pressures of city-living, this Autumn offers the ideal opportunity to escape, and explore the greenest spaces right on your doorstep.

As Autumn arrives, Zipcar UK, the UK’s leading car-sharing club, is encouraging Londoners to get outside and reconnect with nature. With 25 percent more Zipcar users travelling to get to green spaces outside of London compared to the same time last year[2], now is the perfect time to book your next road trip adventure, as more people plan to get out of the city and enjoy the great outdoors.

To support Londoners getting outside this Autumn, Zipcar has collated the ultimate list of green road trip destinations. These are all within an hour of London and you can get to them, without needing to own a car.

James Taylor, UK General Manager at Zipcar says: “We know that it’s important for people to reconnect with nature, there is unequivocal evidence that shows spending time in green spaces benefits mental and physical wellbeing. Driving has a role to play in facilitating access to the great outdoors and areas which might feel inaccessible without a car. Giving our members access to newer vehicles and electric cars as part of the UK’s largest publicly accessible EV fleet, means they can get there with fewer emissions.

“Rediscovering the great outdoors is one of the many benefits of having access to a car which is why all our recommended road trips are within an hour of home to ensure that Londoners feel it’s both accessible and achievable to reconnect with nature this Autumn. To support more people to get out on the road, we are also offering the chance to win two days in a Roundtrip Zipcar to help facilitate more opportunities to explore nature all year round.”

 

 Zipcar UK is inviting Londoners to visit any green destination this Autumn in order to win two days in a Roundtrip Zipcar that can be used any time in the next year.  Follow @ZipcarUK on Instagram, share a photo at the road trip destination of choice and tag #ZipcarExplore for a chance to win, T&Cs apply*.

 

See Terms & Conditions of entry https://www.zipcar.com/en-gb/blog/community/10-greenest-routes

 

 

 

Top 10 greenest road trip destinations within an hour of Central London

Box Hill

Distance from London: 45 mins (26.8 miles via A3)

Listed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Box Hill extends across a quarter of the county of Surrey, from Farnham in the west to Oxted in the east. With its diverse landscape, sweeping hills, colourful flowers and magnificent views of the countryside, Box Hill feels a world away from the bustle of London, yet it is just on its doorstep at only 45 minutes away. The infamous Box Hill Hike takes approximately four hours during which hikers will be treated to spectacular views and plenty of lunch options along the way.

Stop off in Addlestone and charge your EV at the Shell Charging Station while you take a 15-minute walk to Chertsey Meads Park.

Source: Unsplash

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Saffron Walden

Distance from London: 58 mins (46.4 miles)

Located in north-west Essex, Saffron Walden is a picturesque, medieval town with a rich heritage of old buildings and monuments. On the north side of Saffron Walden is the natural charm of Bridge End Garden, which hosts replicated gardening techniques from the Victorian era and a charming maze. The walk into the garden hosts an array of historical galleries including the 1930s Fry Art Gallery making Saffron Walden the perfect weekend escape to get busy Londoners back into nature with a touch of history.

Stop off in Bishops Stortford and charge your EV at the Gridserve Charging Station while you take a 5-minute walk to Bishops Stortford Golf Club and admire the scenery.

 

Source: Unsplash

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Chiltern Hills

Distance from London: 50 mins (26 miles)

Listed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Chiltern Hills is located to the northwest of London surrounded by beautiful countryside and grand estates. Known as a quintessentially English countryside, Chiltern Hills has a landscape of beauty, steeped in history that possesses unique cultural heritage features. With 24 square miles of countryside on the doorsteps of London, Chiltern Hills is the perfect location to explore and unwind from busy city life.

Stop off in Berkhamsted and charge your EV at the Chargemaster Charging Station while you take a 6-minute walk to Berkhamsted Castle.

 

Source: Unsplash

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Strawberry Hill

Distance from London: 1 hr (21.1 miles)

Situated between Twickenham and Teddington, Strawberry Hill houses one of London’s most prestigious mansions. A romantic garden borders Strawberry Hill House to compliment the gothic castle which consists of five-acres of groves, lawns and woodlands perfect for a picnic amongst nature. The garden has been restored to its original appearance using Eighteenth Century maps and paintings as a reminder of the important period in garden history.

Stop off in Richmond and charge your EV at the Ubitricity Charging Station while you take a 5-minute walk to Richmond Park.

 

Source: Unsplash

 

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Windsor Great Park

Distance from London: 58 mins (23.1 miles)

Located on the northern shores of Virginia Water Lake near the Royal Castle, Windsor Great Park is home to an array of historical forests, stunning wildlife and exotic flowers. Spanning across 2,020 hectares including a deer park and iconic views from the Long Walk, Windsor Great Park is the perfect place for picnics, walking, cycling, horse riding and fishing. At only 50 minutes from the bustle of London, the historic park has left its own distinctive mark on this impressive landscape.

Stop off in Englefield Green and charge your EV at the MER Charging Station while you take a 20-minute walk to Runnymede Air Forces Memorial.
 

Source: Unsplash

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Kent Downs

Distance from London: 1 hr (50.6 miles)

Listed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Kent Downs is a nationally protected landscape stretching from the white cliffs of Dover to the Surrey and London border. Featuring rich wildlife and stunning views accessible by a network of footpaths and bridleways, keen hikers have access to the heart of the countryside with Kent Downs. The area is well known for its scenic countryside, woodland and provides a range of landscapes for city-dwellers looking for a nature escape.

Stop off in Kent Downs and charge your EV at the Genie Point Charging Station while you take a walk around Standard Quay.

Source: Unsplash

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Surrey Hills

Distance from London: 1 hr (46.9 miles)

Listed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Surrey Hills hosts some of England’s most iconic sites including Box Hill, Leith Hill, the Devil’s Punch Bowl and Newlands Corner. Offering beautiful and accessible countryside access for walking, Surrey Hills is perfect for explorers looking to embrace the rolling chalk downs of the woodland and rich grasslands.

Stop off in Redhill and charge your EV at the MER Charging Station while you take a walk around Redhill High Street or take a stroll along the river at the Moors Nature Reserve.

Source: Unsplash

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High Weald AONB

Distance from London: 58 mins (47.8 miles)

Designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), High Weald is known as one of England's finest landscapes. Covering 1461 square km of Sussex, Kent and Surrey it is home to a stunning expanse of farms, woodlands and nature reserves. The area conceals over 30 small manor houses, castles and beautiful parks and gardens offering a countryside experience on the doorstep of London.

Stop off in Tonbridge and charge your EV at the Osprey Charging Station while you take a 5-minute walk to Tonbridge Castle.

 

Source: Unsplash

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Ashdown Forest 

Distance from London: 1 hr (42.7 miles)

The landscape that inspired the idyllic home of Winnie-the-Pooh, Ashdown Forest spans across 6,500 acres in the county of East Sussex. As the largest public open space in the South-East of England, Ashdown Forest is an enchanting woodland offering scenic and relaxing walks through rolling meadows. Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) the unique environment of Ashdown Forest is home to some of Europe’s most threatened species.

Stop off in Sevenoaks and charge your EV at the Chargemaster Charging Station while you take a 20-minute walk to Knoll Park.

Source: Unsplash

Hatfield Forest

Distance from London: 54 mins (33.4 miles)

Located in Essex, Hatfield Forest is a Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest home to over 3,500 species of wildlife. Under an hour from the bustling capital city, Hatfield Forest is the only remaining intact Royal Hunting Forest that dates from the time of the Norman kings. With a historical lake and famous walking routes, the National trust protected forest is a great spot to get back into nature this Autumn.

Stop off in Harlow and charge your EV at the PodPoint Charging Station while you take a 20-minute walk to The Gibberd Garden.

Source: Unsplash

-ENDS-

 

Notes to Editor

Distances to road trip locations are all within an hour of the Greater London region:

Greenwich starting point:

Box Hill

High Weald AONB

Surrey Hills

Kent Downs

Ashdown Forest

Tottenham starting point:

Hatfield Forest

Strawberry Hill

Saffron Walden

Wembley starting point:

Windsor Great Park

The Chilterns

 

About Zipcar

Zipcar is the world’s leading car-sharing network, driven by a mission to enable simple and responsible urban living. With its wide variety of self-service vehicles available by the minute, hour or day, Zipcar operates in urban areas and university campuses in cities and towns across Canada, Costa Rica, Iceland, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. Zipcar offers the most comprehensive, most convenient and most flexible car-sharing options available. Zipcar is a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAR), a leading global provider of mobility solutions.

More information is available at www.zipcar.com.