Priory Farm Estate

Priory Farm Nursery, at the edge of the Sussex Downs, is a positive haven from the motorway. You could easily lose an hour or so to browsing the healthy plants and carefully chosen selection of gifts, but if you’re weakening with hunger, head directly to the bright café.

There’s a homeliness to the mismatched chairs, tea is served in pots with knitted cosies, and cakes and treats stand temptingly on the wood-clad counter. For more substantial sustenance, turn to the menu and specials board for dishes such as mushroom soup, sausage and mash, and vegan nachos, made with ingredients from local producers; their very popular breakfast menu is served till 11.30am. If you need a moment to unwind from the frenetic M25, the Potting Shed area is designated for grown-ups only, so you can quietly leaf through a paper or savour a coffee.

If you’ve got restless kids in the back, there’s a really brilliant play area with a tractor to sit on and pirate galleon to hijack, and the farm’s discovery walk is a great excuse to grab a breath of fresh air.