Queen Elizabeth's Oak

You'll find a gnarled, ancient oak standing in Greenwich Park that's genuinely worth seeking out if you're already in the area. This isn't some manicured tourist attraction - it's a proper tree, with all the character that comes from living seven or eight centuries. The trunk's thick as a house, and the spread of branches tells you everything about what London's weather has thrown at it over the generations.

Elizabeth I supposedly sheltered under this very oak during a hunt in 1559, which is the sort of claim that makes you want to believe it even if you can't prove it. Whether that's true or not, standing next to something that old does something to your head - it puts things in perspective.

It's free to access, obviously, since it's just a tree in a public park. You won't need more than ten minutes unless you're genuinely into woodland history, though Greenwich Park itself deserves proper time if you're in London for a few days. The views across the Thames from up here are cracking, and the park's big enough that you can lose the crowds.

If you're staying nearby at Abbey Wood Experience Freedom Glamping, this gives you reason to venture into Greenwich for an afternoon. Combine it with the Royal Observatory and the National Maritime Museum if the weather's decent. On a grey day, though, the oak's atmospheric rather than spectacular - bring good shoes for the mud.