Martyr's Field Memorial

A quiet corner of Kent where England's religious past hits you properly. Martyr's Field Memorial marks the spot where Protestant martyrs were executed during Mary I's reign - not a cheerful subject, but the kind of history that makes you actually think about what happened here. Canterbury's just down the road, so if you're doing the cathedral circuit, this deserves an hour of your time.

It's a reflective sort of place rather than a tourist spectacle. You get the memorial itself, the open space, and genuinely useful information boards that explain what occurred and why it mattered. No crowds, no gift shop, no faffing about - just the facts and some space to absorb them. Families with older kids (secondary school age onwards) tend to get something out of it, though younger ones might find it a bit abstract. History enthusiasts will absolutely want to come.

The Canterbury Camping and Caravanning Club Campsite is barely a mile away, making this an easy add-on to a park holiday in the area. It's the kind of visit that rounds out a proper Kent break - couple of hours here, then back to exploring Canterbury proper or heading to one of the other glamping spots scattered round Mount Ephraim way.

Free to visit and open during daylight hours. Go when the weather's decent - you'll want to read those boards properly, and standing about in proper rain rather kills the mood.