Thomas Telford

Thomas Telford's work dots the Hampshire coastline, and Lee-on-the-Solent is where you'll find some of his most impressive engineering. The man built railways, roads, and harbours across Britain, and this coastal town gives you a genuine sense of his ambition - particularly if you're into Victorian infrastructure and industrial heritage.

What you're actually looking at are the remnants of his harbour and fortification work from the 1820s onwards. It's not flashy - there are no visitor centres or gift shops here - but that's rather the point. Walk along the foreshore and you'll see the old defences, the engineering principles still evident in stone and brick. History enthusiasts will find it absorbing; families with young kids might struggle to stay engaged for more than an hour unless they're genuinely keen on Napoleonic-era coastal defence.

It's free to visit and you can potter about at your own pace. The best approach is to combine it with a proper walk along the seafront rather than treating it as a standalone destination. Lee-on-the-Solent itself is fairly low-key - not the glitziest seaside town you'll find - but that's fine.

If you're based at Kingfisher Caravan Park just down the road, or Hayling Island Holiday Park slightly further out, this works as an excellent afternoon outing. The location is accessible, parking isn't a nightmare, and you can tie it into exploring the wider Solent area. Go when the weather's decent; there's little shelter here.