May Day

May Day sits just outside Milton Keynes, a genuine slice of English heritage that most people drive past without a second glance. It's a historic site with real bones to it - the kind of place where you can actually feel the weight of centuries, rather than some over-restored tourist trap.

The site itself centres on what remains of an old settlement, with earthworks and archaeological features that tell the story of medieval habitation and land use. Walking the grounds gives you a proper sense of how the landscape was shaped over time. It's not flashy - there are no reconstructions or themed activities - but that's rather the point. You're looking at genuine history, marked and explained, which appeals most to serious history walkers and anyone interested in medieval settlement patterns.

With Gullivers Campsite just 0.7 miles away and Adventurer's Village even closer at 0.8 miles, May Day works perfectly as a morning or afternoon stop on a park holiday around Milton Keynes. You'll want to allow an hour or so, depending on how deep you want to dig into the archaeology and local history. Bring decent shoes if the ground's wet - it can be boggy.

Truth is, this isn't a day-long destination. But it's the sort of stop that enriches a broader trip - particularly if you're camping locally and want something thoughtful and free between the usual attractions. Kids over ten who actually like history will find it interesting. Younger ones might get bored quick.