Mandrill

The Mandrill sits just outside Chester as a proper oddity - a bright red sculpture of a mandrill's head that's impossible to miss once you know it's there. It's the kind of landmark that makes you do a double-take from the road, and locals seem split between thinking it's brilliant and wondering what on earth it was for. The thing is unapologetically bold, which is half the appeal.

You're not spending hours here - it's a quick stop rather than a destination in itself, but if you're staying at Birch Bank Farm Caravan & Campsite or Netherwood Touring Site for a Cheshire park holiday, it's worth a detour to see what made someone decide Chester needed a giant mandrill. Kids tend to find it either hilarious or mildly disturbing depending on their temperament. The nearby Chester offers far more substantial reasons to linger - medieval walls, the river, proper shops - so treat the Mandrill as a curiosity to tick off while you're in the area rather than plan your entire day around it.

It's free to look at from the road and doesn't require any planning or visits to opening hours websites because there simply isn't a formal site to enter. Best visited when you're driving through rather than making a special journey, unless you're collecting photos of Britain's more eccentric roadside sculptures.