The Jubilee Lamp

You'll find this Victorian iron lamp standing in Ringwood, a modest monument to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. It's the kind of thing you walk past without thinking twice - a sturdy cast-iron structure with ornamental detailing, the sort of street furniture that marks a moment in history most of us have forgotten about. The lamp itself is functional rather than elaborate, but there's something oddly moving about how these things outlast the jubilees they celebrate.

It's worth a quick stop if you're in Ringwood town centre anyway, though frankly you won't spend more than five minutes here. History enthusiasts might appreciate it as one of many Victorian commemorative lamps scattered across the country - a tangible link to late-19th-century civic pride. Kids will find it about as interesting as an old lamp gets, which is to say not very interesting at all.

The real appeal lies in combining this with a proper walk around the New Forest. Base yourself at one of the nearby parks - Fernwood Glamping or Ashley Heath Caravan Park are closest to Ringwood itself - and use the town as a jumping-off point for exploring the Forest's open heath and woodland. That's where you'll actually spend your time. The lamp is a pleasant footnote, not a destination. Free to view, obviously. Call ahead to the Ringwood tourist information if you want context before you visit.