Admiral Robert Blake

The statue of Admiral Robert Blake stands in Bridgwater's town centre, a bronze monument to one of England's most formidable naval commanders. Blake was born here in 1599 and went on to defeat the Spanish Armada's remnants and establish English naval dominance during the Civil War period - proper impressive stuff when you consider what he achieved without steam power.

It's not a sprawling attraction by any means. You're looking at a statue and a plaque, so realistically you'll spend ten minutes here, maybe twenty if you're into maritime history. That said, if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Secret Valley is barely three miles away, or Mill Farm just over five - it's worth a quick stop in town while you're grabbing supplies or a coffee.

The real appeal is contextual. Bridgwater itself has proper history running through it, and Blake's memorial sits right in the heart of things, so you can tie it into a broader wander around town. History buffs will appreciate the connection to the English Civil War and the early modern navy. Families won't find it gripping for long, but it's free and it takes seconds, so no harm including it in a morning stroll before heading back to the caravan.

Best time to go is early morning or late afternoon when Bridgwater isn't rammed. The town gets properly busy on market days. If naval history leaves you cold, frankly, you won't miss much skipping it - but if you're staying locally at Thornhills or Wall Eden Farm, it's a reasonable town diversion.