Northbrook House

Northbrook House sits just outside Farnham as a proper Surrey manor - the sort of place that reminds you why the South East still has genuine character hiding beneath the commuter belt. It's a handsome brick building with real bones, the kind of house that tells you something about how the gentry actually lived rather than the stately home theatre of it all.

What you're looking at is Georgian architecture done right, with decent grounds that give a sense of how these estates functioned as working concerns. If you're interested in domestic history - the actual lived-in bits rather than the gilt and grandeur - this reads as authentic. Groups researching local history tend to get more from it than casual visitors, though a decent walk around the exterior and grounds takes the best part of an hour.

Worth knowing: opening arrangements aren't always straightforward, so ring ahead rather than turning up on spec. Admission details vary seasonally. It's not the sort of destination that demands a special trip in itself, but if you're staying at Tilford Woods Lodge Retreat up the road - a cracking spot on the Surrey-Sussex border - it slots in nicely as a half-day outing. The wider area around Farnham has enough to keep you occupied, and the walking country between here and Tilford is genuinely lovely.

Realistic expectation? Two hours maximum including the grounds. Best for adults and older children with actual interest in Georgian domestic life. Summer visits work better than winter when the surroundings look a bit thin.