Addington Palace

Few courses in the London commuter belt carry the architectural pedigree of Addington Palace. Laid out by J.H. Taylor — the 5-time Open champion — and opened in 1930, the course occupies the grounds of Addington Palace itself, the former retreat of the Archbishops of Canterbury. That ecclesiastical backdrop gives the place an unlikely grandeur: mature woodland, sweeping parkland, and the pale stone of the palace visible from parts of the course.

Taylor's design makes intelligent use of the undulating Surrey countryside, routing holes through stands of oak and birch on ground that rises and falls more dramatically than first impressions suggest. The fairways demand thoughtful positioning rather than raw power, and the course rewards players who work the ball and read the land. It is a genuine test that has aged well, retaining much of its original character.

Croydon sits at the southern edge of Greater London, and Addington Palace offers a genuine escape from the urban sprawl — proper golf on proper Surrey heathland turf, without travelling far from the city.