Site of Nonsuch Palace

All that remains of Henry VIII's most extravagant vanity project is a grassy field in suburban Surrey. Nonsuch Palace was meant to rival Fontainebleau - a glittering statement of Tudor power with gilded turrets and ornamental gardens that supposedly had no equal in England. Now you're standing in Nonsuch Park near Chessington looking at foundations and a few scattered stones.

It's free to wander, and honestly, that's the only reason to bother. The palace was demolished after the Civil War, which is a shame but rather fitting - nobody was meant to replicate it anyway. What makes it worthwhile is knowing the story. Henry spent an eye-watering fortune on this place starting in 1538, and it consumed him. Literally none of it survives intact. Just grass, information boards, and your own imagination.

Walkers will appreciate the park itself - it's lovely for a proper ramble, with decent paths and enough space to let kids burn off energy. But if you're hoping for dramatic ruins or anything photogenic, you'll be disappointed. This is archaeology for people who actually care about Tudor excess rather than Instagram moments.

If you're staying at Chessington World of Adventures Resort nearby, it's worth a quick detour on a quiet afternoon. Go when you're not expecting much and you might find it oddly moving - this monument to human ambition that nobody finished. Allow an hour maximum, bring a decent guidebook or look up the history beforehand, because the site itself won't tell you much.