Guildford is a small city, bustling and diverse. Less than 20 minutes away by train lies the town of Haslemere and, even smaller, the village of Grayswood, our destination for the day. There we explored All Saints Church, the village green, and the woods and meadows beyond.

There was an ancient, gnarled oak tree, a hedged path, a perfect pond, and a field of grazing polo ponies.

There was a family welcoming us with chili and apple crumble and two adorable dogs. There was a slice of life so very different from our own.

Heading “home” on the train, it felt as if we had stepped out of a fairy tale, back into real life. And in many ways, we had.