The Temple

Just outside Waltham Cross sits The Temple, a proper slice of 18th-century folly that's easy to miss if you're not looking. It's a small but distinctive stone structure built as a decorative garden building - the kind of thing that Georgian landowners threw up when they had money and land in equal measure. Nothing extravagant, mind you, but it's got character and the sort of architectural detail that makes you wonder who actually sat inside it and what they talked about.

You can walk right up to it and have a poke around, though there's not a lot of interactive stuff going on. History buffs will appreciate it more than most, particularly those interested in 18th-century garden design and how the wealthy entertained themselves. The setting is the real draw - it's accessible enough for a quick detour if you're passing through the area, but probably not worth a dedicated trip on its own. Allow 20 minutes, maybe half an hour if you're keen to photograph it properly.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Lee Valley Caravan Park Dobbs Weir is closest at less than five miles away - it makes a reasonable morning outing combined with other local walks. Theobalds Park, also within reach, offers more substantial gardens if The Temple alone feels a bit thin. Check opening hours locally before you go; rural historic sites can be erratic about access.