The World’s First Internet Bench

A bench. Not just any bench - the world's first internet bench, sitting somewhere near Bury Saint Edmunds in Suffolk. It sounds like the sort of thing that should be underwhelming, and honestly, it rather is. You'll find it offering free WiFi in what I can only describe as a very ordinary spot, which is precisely the point. Back in the day, this was genuinely revolutionary - a place where you could sit down and actually connect to the internet outdoors, which was utterly mad for the time.

History nerds and internet archaeology types will find it mildly interesting, the sort of thing worth photographing for the novelty factor. Kids won't care in the slightest. Most people won't either, if we're being frank. You're looking at five minutes maximum, probably less if the WiFi isn't working.

The real appeal is if you're staying in one of the nearby parks - The Four Bells Glamping, Bright Meadow Caravan Park, or West Stow Pods are all within a few miles - and you fancy a walk into the Suffolk countryside to tick off something odd. It's the kind of stop you make en route to somewhere else, not a reason to plan an entire day. Free to visit and accessible at all hours, which at least removes the friction. Bury Saint Edmunds itself is worth spending proper time in, so combine this with a town visit and save yourself from a wasted trip.