Former Mill Race

Walk along Canterbury's waterfront and you'll stumble across the Former Mill Race - a stretch of water that once powered the city's medieval mills. It's less dramatic than some historic sites, but genuinely atmospheric if you know what you're looking at. The race itself is a narrow channel, engineered centuries ago to divert water from the River Great Stour and drive the mill wheels. These days it's peaceful, lined with vegetation, and makes for a pleasant fifteen-minute wander.

History buffs will find it worthwhile. This isn't a grand monument - there's no visitor centre or interpretation boards - but it's a tangible link to Canterbury's industrial past. You can actually see how the medieval engineers solved the problem of powering mills in a city centre. Walkers exploring the cathedral city often miss it entirely, which is a shame.

It's free, naturally, and costs nothing but time. You won't need more than half an hour unless you're really keen on mill engineering. The best approach is to combine it with a proper exploration of Canterbury itself - the cathedral, the city walls, the high street shops. If you're based at Canterbury Camping and Caravanning Club Campsite, just 1.4 miles away, it's an easy stroll into town.

Won't blow your mind. Not spectacular. But it's the sort of place that rewards a little curiosity, and it punctuates a Canterbury visit with something most tourists miss. Honest bit of local history, quietly getting on with existence.