The tower od St Mary Magdalen Butgate

The tower of St Mary Magdalen Butgate rises unexpectedly from Canterbury's street level, a sturdy flint and stone reminder that this city's medieval layers run deep. What you're looking at is essentially the survivors' tale - the church itself is long gone, but this 15th-century tower endured where the rest crumbled, and it's still there to be stumbled upon if you know where to look.

It's a brief stop rather than a destination, to be honest. You can see the whole thing from the pavement in about ten minutes. The tower itself is compact, built from that characteristic flint construction you see scattered across Kent, and the craftsmanship is solid enough even now. The real appeal is the quiet satisfaction of finding something genuinely old and genuinely real - no gift shop, no interpretive panels, just stone that's been standing since Henry VIII was on the throne.

Histor buffs doing the Canterbury rounds will appreciate this as part of the tapestry. Medieval enthusiasts, definitely. Families with young kids might find it a bit underwhelming unless they're the type who get genuinely excited by old buildings. The tower is free to visit and requires no planning beyond knowing where Butgate is.

If you're camping at Canterbury Camping and Caravanning Club Campsite or Canterbury Lodges and Glamping, this is worth the twenty-minute walk into the city centre. Pair it with the Cathedral, the city walls, and the high street, and you've got yourself a proper morning.