Sutton United Football Club

Sutton United's ground sits in south London, a proper working club with genuine football history rather than the corporate sheen you'd find elsewhere. The stadium itself is modest - you're not walking into a cathedral of sport - but there's something authentic about watching a match here, especially if you catch them on a good day. The club has won the National League title and made it to the FA Cup fifth round, which for a small London outfit is genuinely impressive.

You'll get the most from this if you're a proper football fan willing to venture outside the mainstream. Families can take kids to matches, though the facilities are no-frills compared to the Premier League sides, so manage expectations accordingly. Match days are the obvious time to visit, though you can sometimes arrange ground tours outside of fixtures if you ring ahead - check their website for details.

It works well as part of a wider south London sports trip rather than a standalone attraction. Chessington, just five miles away, is where you'd actually base yourselves if combining this with Chessington World of Adventures Resort - that's your proper family holiday hub. You could easily spend an afternoon at the club on match day, grab food locally, then head back to the resort for the theme park. Admission prices vary depending on league level and whether it's a friendly or competitive match, so budget accordingly. Allow three hours for a match day experience, including time to soak up the ground-day atmosphere.