Congreve's Monument

A modest stone obelisk stands in the Buckinghamshire countryside, commemorating William Congreve, the Restoration playwright who died in 1729. It's not much to look at, to be honest - just a tall marker surrounded by fields near Buckingham - but if you're into 17th-century theatre or local history, it marks the spot where someone genuinely significant ended up.

The monument itself requires a bit of detective work to find, and there's precious little fanfare around it. No visitor centre, no interpretive panels, just the stone itself and your own knowledge of why Congreve matters. That means you'll either find it fascinatingly atmospheric or baffling, depending on what you know about Restoration comedy and why a man who wrote The Way of the World deserves a monument in the middle of nowhere.

It's absolutely free, and you can visit any time since it's outdoors. Allow twenty minutes maximum unless you're genuinely keen on Congreve's life story, then maybe linger a bit longer. History enthusiasts and theatre buffs will get more from it than casual visitors will.

If you're staying at one of the local campsites - Hedgehog Retreat is closest at just over a mile away - it makes a decent supplement to a countryside walk rather than a destination in itself. Pair it with a proper explore of Buckingham town itself, which has considerably more going on. The monument is worth a detour if you're already in the area, but don't make a special trip.