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One of the great things about growing up in is how much there is to explore nearby. While there's plenty to do in the Big Smoke, whether it's going for a wander along one of the or discovering some of the city's , it's also incredibly easy to venture further afield. Contrary to popular belief, despite growing up in London, I spent much of my childhood outside, and often spent weekends at a nearby that's even been named one of the .

While I was slightly before the generation that grew up with screens, that doesn't mean there weren't any around. Tamagotchis, Gameboys and Nintendo Wiis were a huge part of my childhood, but weekends spent at this seaside provided my friends and I with enough entertainment that we rarely wanted to sit inside on our various game consoles. Considered one of largest shingle beaches, we happily spent hours outdoors shingle surfing and exploring abandoned bunkers and fishing boats along the beach, pretending to be pirates.

Nestled on the southernmost point of the Kent coast, Dungeness is unlike any other seaside I've ever visited, in fact it was once referred to as England's only desert thanks to its mild climate (as far as UK weather goes).

Home to two magnificent lighthouses and the Dungeness Power Station, weekends spent on the shingle beach often felt like being on the set of a film. Previously home to the filmmaker Derek Jarman, it's also doubled up as a backdrop for TV shows like Doctor Who.

Looking out onto the vastness of the English Channel, there's an eeriness to the beach that manages to draw an estimated one million visitors a year looking to explore its unique landscape.

Railway carriages converted into cottages are dotted along the beach, and it's not just the shingle beach that makes this strange seaside a charming break from London, there's also the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway serviced by a fleet of steamtrains.

A National Nature Reserve, Dunganess is also a popular spot for birdwatches, home to a variety of protected species within its wet grasslands and pretty wildflower meadows that many afternoons were spent exploring with hot chocolate brought along in a flask.

While you can't swim at the beach in Dungeness, Camber Sands is ideally located just a 20 minute drive along the coast, and summer months were often spent making trips over here for a change of scenery.

Growing up in London, Dungeness allowed me to connect with the outdoors in a way you don't often get to do in the city. Yes we have ample green spaces and parks, but nothing ever felt quite as cool as Dungeness.