Alexandra Palace

The Victorian palace sprawls across a north London hilltop like something from a Dickens novel, all red brick and ornate ironwork, though nobody seems quite sure whether to treat it as a concert hall, ice rink, or historical monument. You can wander the grounds for free - the views across London from the terrace alone justify the trip up from Finsbury Park station. Inside, there's usually something on: gigs, trade fairs, the occasional wrestling match. It's genuinely chaotic in the best way, the kind of place that somehow still feels like a proper Victorian adventure despite the boarded-up sections and creeping damp.

Historically minded visitors will get something out of the near-destruction by fire in 1873, just sixteen days after opening, and the subsequent rebuild - there's a resilience to the place that's oddly moving. But honestly, most people come for the events rather than the building itself. The skating rink is decent if you've got kids in tow, though it's pricey. A single visit to the palace proper takes maybe an hour unless you're catching a show.

If you're based at Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park over in Edmonton, it's less than five miles south - easily manageable for a day trip. The palace works best as part of a broader north London wander rather than a destination in itself. Worth the detour if you're already in the area, but don't rearrange your itinerary specially.