Clifford's Tower, York

You can't miss Clifford's Tower when you're wandering around York - it dominates the skyline from pretty much everywhere in the city centre. This hefty Norman keep stands about 70 feet tall and was built on an earthwork mound in the 1060s, though what you see today is mostly the 14th-century rebuild after the original wooden structure burned down in 1190.

The climb up is properly steep - around 50 spiral stone steps - but the views across York's rooftops and out towards the countryside are genuinely worth the effort. On a clear day you can see right across North Yorkshire. Inside, it's fairly spartan once you reach the top, with information boards covering its fairly grim medieval past rather than lots of period fittings, but that's honest really.

History types will get the most from this - the tower's been a fortress, a prison, and a mint at various points, and there's real weight to standing where so much of York's story happened. Families with older kids (younger ones might find the climb tedious) will appreciate the views and the chance to burn off energy. Allow 45 minutes to an hour.

If you're staying at Nurseries Caravan Park or Wagtail Park just outside York, this is an obvious half-day trip combined with a stroll through the medieval streets below. Entry requires a ticket and it's run by English Heritage, so check opening times before you visit.