Ham House and Garden

The red-brick Stuart mansion overlooking the Thames near Chessington is properly impressive from the outside, but the real prize here is what's inside - rooms that haven't been mucked about with since the 17th century. Walking through Ham House feels like stepping into someone's actual home from 1670, not a museum that's been tidied up for tourists.

You get the real deal: the original furniture, tapestries still hanging where they were placed centuries ago, and kitchen gardens that still produce vegetables. The servants' quarters are fascinating if you like social history - shows you how these grand houses actually functioned day to day. Allow a solid two hours if you're going to do it properly, longer if you're the type to read every label.

Historians will have a field day. Families with younger kids might find it a bit dry unless they're already keen on that sort of thing - there's not much to actively do, it's more about looking and learning. The garden's pleasant enough for a wander, especially in summer, though it's not the sort of place you'd spend half a day in.

It's run by the National Trust, so membership makes sense if you're doing the circuit. Chessington's only a short drive away, and if you're camping at Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Ham House is easily doable as a half-day visit. The Thames setting is genuinely lovely - worth timing your visit to catch the light on the water.