Pevensey Castle

The remains of this Norman fortress sit on what was once a peninsula jutting into the English Channel, now stranded inland as the shoreline retreated over centuries. You're walking around walls that William the Conqueror's men built in the 1080s, perched on the foundations of a Roman fort that's roughly 1,900 years older. The outer bailey is the main event - a substantial curved wall with towers you can actually clamber up, giving proper views across the Pevensey levels towards the coast.

It's the kind of place that rewards a slow wander rather than a quick tick-off. History buffs will have a field day mentally reconstructing what stood where, and the sheer age of the Roman stonework is genuinely impressive if you know what you're looking at. Kids get a kick out of climbing the tower stairs and imagining battles, though there's not much else to occupy them if they're under eight or so. Expect to spend an hour here, maybe ninety minutes if you're thorough.

For a holiday based at Pevensey Bay Holiday Park or the excellent Warren Wood Country Park just down the road, this is a straightforward morning visit - Pevensey town is right there. It's free to wander the grounds, though opening times can be variable depending on the season, so check ahead before you drag everyone out. The setting is flat and windswept rather than dramatically beautiful, but that somehow makes the castle feel tougher, more austere. Worth the detour if you're already in the area.