Roman city gate

The Roman gate in Lincoln is one of those stops that rewards a bit of effort. You're looking at the Newport Arch - a proper piece of Roman engineering that's still standing in the middle of the modern city, which is frankly extraordinary when you think about it. It's the only Roman gateway in Britain that vehicles still drive through, and that alone makes it worth seeking out.

The gate itself is modest compared to what you might imagine - two storeys of weathered stone that's somehow survived nearly two thousand years of English weather. You can't go inside, but walking around it and trying to picture what Roman Lincoln looked like when this was the northern entrance to the city proper is absorbing enough. The engineering is clean and confident.

History buffs will spend a good thirty minutes here taking in the details and the sheer age of the thing. Kids might manage fifteen if you tell them stories about Roman soldiers marching through. It's free to view from the street, which is the only way really - no visitor centre, no gift shop, just the arch doing its job in the middle of Lincoln's shopping district.

If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like Hartsholme Country Park or Langdale Lakes, this works as a half-hour city detour on a rainy afternoon rather than a reason to trek over from your pitch. Combine it with a wander through Lincoln's cathedral quarter and you've got a decent few hours. The arch won't change your life, but it's the kind of authentic historical moment that sticks with you.