Nicholas of Lynn

There's a blue plaque on the wall of a ordinary-looking building in King's Lynn that marks where one of medieval England's cleverest minds once lived. Nicholas of Lynn - mathematician, astronomer, Carmelite friar - spent his life here doing calculations that would've seemed like sorcery to most people in the 14th century. He's the kind of historical figure that makes you realise how much brainpower was quietly happening away from the grand castles and cathedrals.

You won't find a visitor centre or guided tours. This is just a plaque on a building, really - a marker that says someone remarkable was here. It takes five minutes to find it, stand there, and read about how this Norfolk man invented navigational instruments and wrote about mathematics when most folks couldn't read. History buffs will find it worthwhile; families with restless kids might feel a bit short-changed.

The real value is in adding it to a broader King's Lynn wander. The town itself has decent medieval bones, and combining a Nicholas of Lynn spot-check with exploring the town centre makes a proper morning. Both Kings Lynn Caravan & Camping Park and Sandringham Camping and Caravanning Club Site are close enough that you could base yourself at either and make this a half-hour diversion. It's not going to fill an afternoon, but if you're staying in Norfolk and interested in how the medieval mind worked, it's absolutely worth the detour.