Basildon is a town in Essex, 25 miles from Central London. It was built after the Second World War, along with several other small towns. Hire a car in Basildon if you want to get around and see the local attractions. Barleylands Farm is a popular attraction and has a craft village. By hiring a car from Basildon you can get over to Gloucester Park, where you can easily spend a whole day swimming, playing tennis, netball or football, fishing or just relaxing with a picnic.
Basildon is close to London, but also close to the countryside and hiring a car from Basildon means you can explore both the city and countryside. A popular destination is Wat Tyler Country Park. The park, on the Thames Estuary, is a 125 acre woodland that also contains children's play areas and a café – great for a mid-walk coffee stop. Mill Meadows Nature Reserve in the nearby town of Billericay is a slightly smaller 90 acres, it is the home to many plants and insects that are now endangered in the UK.