The Stamford Spa

The spa waters that made Stamford famous in the 18th century are long gone, but the Georgian architecture that grew around them tells the whole story. You're walking through one of England's finest stone-built towns, and the Spa itself - or what remains of it - sits as a reminder of when taking the waters was serious business for the well-to-do.

What you actually see depends on the day and access, but the Spa's footprint is woven into Stamford's town centre. The elegant buildings nearby are the real draw - this is one of those places where stepping off the high street feels like time travel. History buffs will spend a good couple of hours picking apart the Georgian details and imagining the gossip that happened in these rooms.

Families with older kids will find it decent enough as part of a wider town wander, though younger ones might lose interest once they clock it's not a swimming pool. The real value is that staying at Stamford Meadows Glamping, just half a mile away, puts you within easy walking distance of the town. You can combine it with a proper explore of Stamford's streets - the stone terraces are genuinely lovely, and there's decent food about.

Rockingham Forest Park at Landal is four miles out if you want a bigger base, though you'll need a car. Allow an hour to get the feel of the Spa and the surrounding architecture. Go on a weekday morning if possible - Stamford gets rammed with day-trippers on weekends.