The George pub

The George isn't some glossy gastropub trying too hard - it's a proper old coaching inn that's been serving punters since the 17th century, and it still feels like it. Walk in and you're met with low timber beams, real fireplaces, and the kind of worn floorboards that tell you this place has hosted centuries of conversations. The building itself is the main event. You'll find it in Milton Keynes, though it's the sort of place that makes you forget you're in a modern town centre.

Historically minded types will get proper value here - the architecture speaks volumes about Georgian England, and the bones of the building are genuinely interesting if you know what you're looking at. It's not a museum experience, though. This is a working pub where you can actually sit down, order a pint, and soak in the atmosphere without feeling like you're paying entry fees to look at furniture.

If you're camped at The Old Dairy Farm (just under two miles away) or Gullivers Campsite further out, The George makes an excellent evening stop. The walk from the campsites is manageable, and it breaks up what can otherwise be a fairly cookie-cutter holiday routine. Fair warning - it's busy in the evenings and weekends, which is both good and bad. You get proper atmosphere but not always a quiet corner. Daytime visits are calmer if you prefer to actually look at the details. Don't expect fancy food, but the pub grub is honest and the beer's decent. Worth the trip if you're passing through Milton Keynes anyway.