Peace Pole

The Peace Pole stands in Wokingham as a quiet, rather moving reminder of the nuclear anxieties that gripped Britain in the 1980s. It's a simple structure - a wooden pole inscribed with 'May Peace Prevail on Earth' in multiple languages - and while it won't take you more than ten minutes to find and photograph, there's something genuinely affecting about it once you're there.

You'll want to go if you're the sort who enjoys reading the stories behind local monuments rather than just ticking off postcards. Families with older kids might appreciate the conversation it sparks about peace and global citizenship, though young children will probably lose interest quickly. It's free to visit and sits within reach of Reading, making it an easy addition to a broader afternoon's wandering around Wokingham's town centre.

The real appeal is as a stopping point rather than a destination in itself. If you're based at Wellington Country Park - which sits just five miles away and offers proper facilities for a longer stay - you could combine it with exploring the town and grabbing a coffee. California Chalet is slightly further out at five miles, but both parks make reasonable bases for this part of the South East. On a quiet weekday morning, the Peace Pole feels genuinely contemplative. Don't expect grandeur or crowds. What you get instead is a moment's stillness, and in 2024, that's worth something.