Greenham Common

The former USAF cruise-missile base is now West Berkshire common land, and it's an extraordinary place to fly — a vast, flat, open sweep of restored heath threaded with remnants of the old runway and hardstanding, big enough that finding clear TOAL away from people is easy. Drone flyers use it regularly. Two things keep it firmly at 'caution' rather than open. First, sensitive neighbours: AWE Aldermaston, a nuclear-licensed site, lies roughly 5km north-east, and RAF Welford's danger area sits to the north-west — you need to stay well clear of both and check NOTAMs before you launch, because temporary restrictions can appear. Second, it's a genuinely popular common with dog walkers, cyclists and families, so mind privacy and pick a weekday morning. There's also conservation value: ground-nesting birds use the heath in spring, so keep disturbance low and don't hover over rough grassland in the breeding season. Park by the old control tower and visitor centre, which itself makes a characterful subject. The scale, the industrial-heritage textures and the sheer openness are the draw — just fly it with the surrounding sensitivities front of mind.