Kirby Muxloe Castle

You'll spot the red brick walls from the car park - they're impossible to miss, rising up from the Leicestershire countryside like something from a Tudor painting. Kirby Muxloe Castle is mostly ruins, mind you. What remains is a fortified manor house begun in 1480 by William Hastings, a man who clearly had money and wanted everyone to know it. The gatehouse is the real star, a proper brick structure with turrets that still stands largely intact after over five centuries.

It's a quick visit, honestly. Twenty minutes to half an hour if you're dawdling and taking photos. The site's free to wander - no tickets, no faffing about - though it's the sort of place where you'll want to bring a guidebook or do your homework first. The history's there in the stonework, but you won't get much from the signage alone. Families with younger kids might find it a touch underwhelming; there's no visitor centre, no cafe, no climbing frames. But serious history buffs and walkers will appreciate the quiet and the chance to stand where medieval nobility once stood.

It's barely four miles from Leicester town centre, making it an easy detour if you're based at one of the local caravan parks like The Paddocks or Mallory Meadows. Neither of those are far away, so you could easily slot it into a day exploring the area. Go on a dry day though - the site can get muddy, and there's precious little shelter if the weather turns.