Lord Palmerston

Lord Palmerston's grave sits in the churchyard of St Giles the Abinger, tucked away in a corner of south London that most tourists sail straight past. The man himself - Victorian Prime Minister, political heavyweight, and the sort of character who'd never suffer fools - gets a modest stone memorial, which feels about right for someone of his stature but no pretence.

If you're into 19th-century political history or just enjoy tracking down the final resting places of Britain's more colourful leaders, it's worth the trip. Don't expect anything grand or tourist-friendly. It's a proper graveyard visit - you'll need a bit of detective work to find the exact spot, and there's no visitor centre or information board. That's rather the charm of it, honestly. You're standing where a man who shaped the British Empire is buried, and there's barely a soul about.

The surrounding area works reasonably well as part of a wider London history walk. If you're staying at one of the parks nearby - Lovat Parks is just a mile away - you could combine this with a ramble through local churchyards and Georgian architecture without breaking a sweat. Allow twenty minutes maximum here, unless you're the contemplative sort who enjoys lingering among the graves.

Real historians will find it satisfying. Casual tourists? Probably not. But if you've got an afternoon and you're into the smaller, quieter side of London history, it's a perfectly reasonable addition to your itinerary.