Old Gorhambury House

The ruins of Old Gorhambury House sit in open countryside just outside St Albans, and they're genuinely eerie - a proper reminder that grand Tudor mansions don't last forever. What you're looking at are the remains of a house built in the 1560s by Sir Nicholas Bacon, Elizabeth I's Lord Keeper. The red-brick gatehouse and a few crumbling walls are what's left now, but stand there long enough and you can almost picture the thing in its heyday.

It's not a destination that demands hours. Twenty minutes to half an hour, and you've seen what there is to see. But if you're into Tudor history or just want a quiet walk through proper countryside, it's worth the detour from St Albans - the town's only a few miles away. Kids might find it a bit underwhelming unless they're already interested in ancient buildings; there's not much to climb on or interact with, and it's basically a field with rubble. For walkers and history types, though, it's a decent spot to work into a longer ramble.

The site appears to be freely accessible and unmanned, which means go whenever suits you. If you're staying at one of the local parks - Fuzzy's Farm, Highridge Farm, or Cherry Green Trees are all within five to six miles - you could easily fit it in alongside other attractions in the area. The surrounding landscape is pleasant enough for a bit of pottering about, even if the house itself is just broken brick and shadows.