John Hampden

The memorial to John Hampden sits quietly in the Buckinghamshire countryside, a few miles from Aylesbury, marking where this seventeenth-century politician and landowner made his stand against royal authority. Hampden refused to pay ship money - a tax levied by Charles I that most people considered illegal - and his defiance became a rallying point for those opposed to the Crown. It's the kind of spot that matters enormously if you're into English Civil War history, but less so if you're after action and views.

The site itself is fairly modest. You're looking at a monument in open landscape rather than a grand building or interactive museum. It works best as a pilgrimage for history enthusiasts who want to stand where something genuinely important happened, or as a detour if you're already exploring the Chilterns on foot. Allow thirty minutes maximum, longer if you're the type to sit on a bench and absorb the moment.

Bucking that into a camping holiday around here makes sense. Orchard View Farm and Hill Farm are both within five miles if you're based at one of the glamping or caravan sites in the area. Pair it with walks through the Chiltern valleys - there's proper countryside all around - and you've got a low-key but rewarding day. It's not a destination that'll keep kids entertained for hours, but for adult history buffs planning a Buckinghamshire break, it's absolutely worth the short drive from wherever you're staying.