London 2012 Olympic Games

The Olympic Park from 2012 sits just outside Milton Keynes, a sprawling legacy of London's summer games that's worth a detour if you're staying in the area. Walking around the former venues - the Stadium, the Aquatics Centre, the Velodrome - you get a real sense of what hosting the Olympics actually looks like on the ground. It's not all polished and pristine anymore; there's genuine history here, layered into the landscape.

For families, this works best as a half-day visit rather than an all-day affair. The Stadium still hosts events and you can often catch a match or concert if you time it right, but even just wandering the grounds and spotting the old Olympic rings feels worthwhile. History buffs and sports enthusiasts will find more to grip them than casual visitors - you're really here to connect with a specific moment in British sporting life.

The whole area is accessible from Milton Keynes town centre without much fuss. If you're based at Gullivers Campsite or Adventurer's Village Milton Keynes nearby, it's practically on your doorstep - worth fitting in between whatever else you're doing locally. Admission varies depending on what you're attending, but simply exploring the parkland itself is free and takes about ninety minutes at a leisurely pace. Early morning visits are genuinely nicer; fewer crowds and better light for photos.