The Clock Tower

Leicester's Clock Tower stands bang in the heart of the city centre, a proper Victorian landmark that's impossible to miss once you know where to look. Built in 1868, it's that solid red-brick structure with the clock faces that actually work - four of them, one on each side, which is more practical than you'd think when you're trying to meet someone in town. The tower itself isn't particularly tall, but it commands the space around it with the kind of presence old civic buildings manage without trying.

You can walk around it, photograph it, and grab a coffee from one of the nearby cafes while you admire the craftsmanship. The stonework holds up remarkably well given Leicester's industrial past. It's the sort of thing that takes fifteen minutes max, but it's worth that time if you're exploring the city centre anyway. History buffs will appreciate its Victorian engineering; photographers will find decent angles from the surrounding streets.

If you're based at Bradgate Park, Green Acres, or Cossiwild Camping for a caravan holiday in the area, the Clock Tower makes an easy detour on a shopping trip into Leicester itself. It's free to view, obviously - it's a public monument - and there's no admission process to navigate. Families won't find it riveting for long, but older kids studying Victorian architecture or local history will get something from it. Best visited during daylight when the clock faces are visible and the surrounding streets are busy with life.