Basildon Park

The drive up to Basildon Park takes you through proper Oxfordshire countryside, and then suddenly you're faced with this rather magnificent Georgian pile. It's a neoclassical country house that actually looks like someone's still living in it, which is rather the point - the National Trust keeps it sharp and well-maintained without turning it into a museum piece.

Inside, the decoration is surprisingly restrained for the period. High ceilings, pastel walls, and an impressive staircase dominate the main rooms. Most visitors spend between ninety minutes and two hours here, though you can move through faster if you're not the sort to read every description panel. The grounds are worth a proper wander too - nothing wild, but pleasant enough for stretching your legs after Wallingford.

Families with young children might find it a touch dull after the first half-hour, truth be told. Teenagers studying architecture or design history would get more from it. If you're camping nearby at Rolling Fields Glamping or Ridgeway View, it makes for a decent rainy-day option, though I'd combine it with a walk along the Thames at Wallingford rather than making it your entire afternoon.

The tea room is serviceable. Admission and opening hours do change seasonally with the National Trust, so check before you visit. It's the sort of place that rewards a proper look-round but won't blow your mind - solid rather than spectacular, and worth the short trip from either campsite if the weather's turned.