Tottenham Tower

The tower itself is brick - proper Victorian industrial stuff - sitting on the edge of Tottenham with views across London that honestly catch you off guard. It's been converted into a gallery space, and what works about it is the rawness. You're looking at contemporary art inside a working-class monument, which feels right somehow.

The climb matters. You don't get the views without earning them, and that's the whole point. Once you're up there, the city spreads out beneath you in a way that makes you understand why London grew the way it did. On a clear day you can see for miles.

It's not somewhere to spend hours - most people do it in 45 minutes to an hour. The gallery programming changes, so check before you go if there's something specific on. If you're staying at Lee Valley Campsite nearby, it's barely 20 minutes' drive away and breaks up a holiday nicely without being a major commitment.

Who'll get the most out of it? Photographers, definitely. Art people. Anyone interested in industrial heritage and how cities transform old infrastructure. Kids will find the climb fun, though younger ones might struggle with the stairs. Not somewhere you'd base a day around, but absolutely worth the detour if you're camping in Hertfordshire and fancy something a bit different from the usual heritage trail stuff.