Crystal Palace National Sports Centre

The Crystal Palace National Sports Centre sits on the south London skyline like a monument to British sporting ambition. Built on the grounds where the actual Crystal Palace once stood, it's now home to an Olympic-sized swimming pool, diving facilities, and a proper athletics track that's hosted everything from Commonwealth Games trials to local club championships.

You won't find much to do here as a casual visitor - this is an active sports facility, not a tourist attraction. But if you're staying nearby and your kids are swimmers or young athletes, it's worth knowing about. The aquatics centre is the main draw: three pools including that Olympic beast, plus a diving pool where you can watch proper divers training if you're lucky. Entry costs vary depending on what you want to do, but casual swimming sessions run regularly.

The real charm is the walk around the grounds themselves. The parkland tells the story of Victorian London's lost wonder - you can still trace where the original palace stood, and the atmosphere changes completely once you're away from the leisure centre buildings. On a clear day you'll get views across South London that justify the trip alone.

Works brilliantly as a half-day stop if you're basing yourself at Lovat Parks, about six miles north. Not worth a special journey unless you're genuinely interested in sports history or have swimmers in the family. Allow two hours maximum unless you're actually using the facilities.