PROFILE: Biggin Hill - Lush Meadows and Green Trees

It's hard to comprehend when you are surrounded by lush meadows and green trees that London is no more than 30 miles away.

And it's equally as dumbfounding to realise that cutting a swathe through this particular niche of the pleasant land is the M25, a hated but vital artery of the South East of England.

hankfully there are lots of nooks and crannies, villages and hamlets where residents can retreat to once they’ve left the concrete ribbon behind.

That is why many thousands of people have made their home in this tranquil backwater, sandwiched between three of the most picturesque counties in England - Kent, Surrey and Sussex – and technically known as the Tandridge District of East Surrey and, just a few miles east, the Sevenoaks District of West Kent.

The area is an attraction for house buyers because of its proximity to the M25 and to towns with rail links to London but there are many other reasons why folks gravitate to this neck of the woods.

It has the perfect blend of beautiful Green Belt land, much of it unspoilt, and, just over the horizon, urban sprawls. Croydon, Bromley,Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks are all within striking distance for the shopper and commuter. On a smaller scale there’s Caterham, East Grinstead, Oxted and Redhill, all hovering on the doorstep but never encroaching.

And the district has the added bonus of being at the heart of the history of momentous people – King Henry VIII and Sir Winston Churchill were among the most famous former residents of the area.

And it has much to offer the rural lifestyle enthusiast – the district is legendary for its facilities for the hiker, the horserider, the disciple of the outdoors.

And of course it has lovely homes – either new build or historical rambling cottages and impressive mansions – from which to enjoy the views and the gentle lifestyle.