Gothic Sham Castle

You'll spot it from miles away across the Lincolnshire flatlands - a proper Gothic folly rising up like something from a Victorian daydream. Gothic Sham Castle is exactly what the name suggests: a fake castle built as a decorative ruin, all crenellations and crumbling stone walls with absolutely none of the fortress functionality. It's the sort of thing wealthy landowners threw up in the 18th century when they fancied a bit of theatrical landscape gardening.

Walking around it, you get the full drama without any of the history lectures. The stonework's weathered nicely over the centuries, and there's something oddly romantic about a structure that was designed to look old before it was even finished. Fair warning though - it's more about the exterior and the photo opportunity than anything you can actually go inside and explore.

History buffs will appreciate the architectural statement it makes; families with young kids might find twenty minutes is about the limit unless they're really into climbing on walls. The nearest proper base is Grantham, a few miles south, though Wagtail Country Park sits just over two miles away if you're after a proper holiday park to base yourself at.

Best visited on a clear day when you can appreciate how it commands the landscape. Go midweek to avoid crowds, though this isn't exactly Oxford Street at Christmas. The walk around the grounds is gentle, making it a reasonable detour if you're touring the area - though I'd pair it with other Lincolnshire attractions rather than making it a whole afternoon.