If you read this headline and did a double take, you wouldn’t be the first.
But anyone looking to find a beach local to London in the coming heatwave won’t need to look as far as the coast.
In fact, you might be surprised to find one of Southern England’s best-kept-secret beaches is actually… inland.
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Frensham Great Pond might not have the most glamorous name, but images of its golden sandy shores tell a different story.
Tucked away on the western edge of the Surrey Hills just south of Frensham village, between Farnham and Hindhead, the beautiful reservoir and lake is the perfect escape from London.
The National Trust-owned site is meticulously managed
(Image: Darren Pepe/Surrey Advertiser)
The neighbouring Frensham Little Pond is just round the corner, and part of the same estate; both were originally created in the 13th century to supply fish to the Bishop of Winchester and his court, while visiting Farnham Castle.
Unlike coastal beaches, Frensham enjoys its location nestled among trees and shrubbery, making the area a haven for birds and other wildlife.
As well as providing a stunning and uniquely natural backdrop to the beach, this means there are also plenty of shady spots to cool off on a hot day.
The area is a haven for wildlife
(Image: Darren Pepe/Surrey Advertiser)
The National Trust-owned land, which covers almost 1,000 acres surrounding the pond, is meticulously managed by Waverley Council and has won a Green Flag award for publicly accessible green spaces.
Visitors to the pond can enjoy a swim in the water between the opening hours, which are dawn until dusk pretty much all year round.
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If you’re heading there to swim, make sure you check the Council Website for any updates on the water quality, as the pond has been known to occasionally succumb to dangerous blooms of blue algae.
To maintain the sanctity of the area for wildlife, no dogs are allowed, nor barbecues or fires, and inflatable boats or rings are also not allowed on the pond.
Waverley Council advises that the car park is usually full by 10am so to arrive early if you want to get a space – you will need to pay to park via the RingGo app, which you can download for free.
Sunbathers at Frensham Great Pond
(Image: Mark Davison)
The council also advises against visiting on hot days during weekends and bank holidays, as the site becomes crowded – so a weekday might be your best bet.
If you are getting there by car, you can take the A3 toll road or the M3, both of which should get you there in under an hour and a half from South London without traffic.
Alternatively, you can hop on a train from Waterloo to Farnham, then catch the number 19 bus the rest of the way – all in all it takes around an hour and a half’s travel time.
What did you think of Frensham? Let us know in the comments here.
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