The best village events near London
You do not have to go far from the capital to find a proper village day out. Fetes, county shows, steam rallies and river races, all within easy reach of London across Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire.
1. Royal Swan Upping
The King's Swan Marker rows traditional skiffs up the Thames to count the year's cygnets, a ceremony dating to the twelfth century. Watch from the bank around Henley, under an hour from Paddington.
See it on Villagly →2. Kent County Show
Three days at the Detling showground: prize livestock, heritage crafts and Kentish food and drink, an easy run from London.
See it on Villagly →3. Battle Scarecrow Festival
The East Sussex town built on the field of Hastings fills its streets with homemade scarecrows for a weekend, a gloriously daft family day out.
See it on Villagly →4. The Sussex Steam Rally
Steam traction engines and vintage vehicles parade across the deer park at Parham, beneath the South Downs.
See it on Villagly →5. Ware Festival Raft Race
Teams race handmade rafts down the River Lea through this pretty Hertfordshire town, half an hour from Liverpool Street.
See it on Villagly →6. Kimpton Folk Festival
A boutique one-day festival that turns a Hertfordshire village green into a folk stage, simple to reach from London.
See it on Villagly →7. Brightwell cum Sotwell Village Fete and Flower Show
A genuinely traditional village fete in the walled gardens of Sotwell: bunting, cakes and a flower show in the Oxfordshire countryside.
See it on Villagly →8. Pyrford and Wisley Flower Show
A traditional flower and produce show running since 1948 on a Surrey village cricket ground, next door to RHS Wisley.
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