The More Palace (site of)

There's not much left to see here, if we're being honest. More Palace was once the grand Tudor residence of Sir William Cecil, Elizabeth I's chief minister, but today you're looking at ruins and earthworks on the outskirts of Watford - basically a field with some bumps and broken stonework if you know where to look.

What makes it worth the trip isn't the palace itself but the idea of it. Walking the grounds, you can trace where the courtyards and gardens once sat. There's genuine atmosphere in that, especially if you're into Tudor history and enjoy piecing together the past from fragments. The site sits in a proper rural pocket despite being so close to the town, which feels incongruous but rather pleasant.

Walkers and history enthusiasts will get more from this than families with young kids - there's no visitor centre, no interpretation boards worth mentioning, and honestly it demands a bit of imagination. Allow an hour if you're keen; half that if you're just passing through. Admission appears to be free, though access can be tricky and you'll want to check locally before heading out.

If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like Bushey Hall or Home Farm Glamping, More Palace works as a gentle ramble to break up the day. Pair it with Aldenham Country Park, which is only a few miles away and actually has facilities and proper walking trails. The contrast between Cecil's lost power base and modern parkland makes for an interesting day out.