National Trust - Old Soar Manor

A squat stone tower rising from a field just outside Sevenoaks - that's what draws you to Old Soar Manor. The National Trust has kept this place exactly as it should be: minimal fuss, maximum authenticity. You're looking at a 13th-century knight's dwelling, one of the oldest residential buildings in England that's still standing. The main keep is what survives, a proper fortress of a room where someone actually lived and held court, surrounded by the remnants of a manor house that's long since crumbled away.

Walking round it takes about twenty minutes, though you could happily spend longer just absorbing the stonework and imagining what went on within these walls. There's no visitor centre, no gift shop nonsense - just you, the tower, and very good signage explaining what you're looking at. Children tend to find it underwhelming unless they've got a genuine interest in medieval life, but for history types and anyone who appreciates solid Norman architecture, it's absolutely worth the detour from Sevenoaks.

Admission is free and it's open year-round - the whole point is that you can wander up whenever you fancy. The location works well if you're based at Gatehouse Wood or Thriftwood Country Park nearby. Combine it with a proper walk across the Kent countryside and you've got a solid afternoon sorted. Go on a dry day though - the field gets boggy, and there's no shelter whatsoever once you're outside the tower.