Once covered by heathland, Fleet is a lively commuter town south-west of London. The area remained largely undeveloped until the mid-19th century when two churches were built and the surrounding land was sold for development. In 1904, Fleet became an urban district and is now an important hub for tech businesses.
Things to do in Fleet
One of Fleet’s most prominent religious buildings is All Saints’ Church, which was designed by the renowned 19th-century English architect William Burges. Now Grade II listed, the church features multiple arched windows along its red-brick exterior. Dominating the front of the church is an elegant rose window while a small bell tower rises at the back.
On the edge of the town centre is Calthorpe Park, a recreational green space with a basketball hoop, tennis courts and plenty of space to kick a ball around. You can stretch your legs on one of the wooded walking trails or let the kids run loose in the castle-themed playground. Adjacent is a cricket pitch and the facilities of the Fleet Town Football Club.
Birdwatchers can visit the Fleet Pond Nature Reserve, which provides important habitat for reed warblers and a variety of other wetland birds. A circular walking trail rings the pond, taking in native heathland, marsh and woodland along its route. Fed by Fleet Brook, the pond was drained during World War II to make it less visible to aircraft but has since been refilled and designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Getting around Fleet
Fleet is around an hour’s drive from the centre of London and 30 minutes from Heathrow Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Trains connect to the Fleet railway station and buses travel along the town’s main street.