Water Tower

There's something properly compelling about climbing a Victorian water tower. This one sits near Swindon, a solid red-brick monument to the industrial ambition of a town that actually knew how to build things. You get views across Wiltshire from the top - flat countryside stretching out in all directions, the kind of vistas that make you understand why someone bothered constructing this thing in the first place.

It's a working historical site, not a museum, so visits depend on what's arranged locally. Ring ahead before you trek over - opening hours aren't fixed and admission varies. That said, the exterior alone is worth photographing if you're into Victorian engineering or industrial heritage. The stonework is still crisp, the lines clean. If you do get inside, expect a proper workout on the stairs, but the payoff is genuine.

History buffs will eat this up. It's the sort of thing that appeals to people who actually care about how infrastructure shaped Britain rather than just wanting a pretty postcard moment. Families with kids aged eight and up might find it interesting, though younger ones may tire of the climb.

If you're based at Nordic Glamping at Botswicky, just five miles south, this makes a solid half-day outing. Pair it with a wander around Swindon's engineering heritage - the town has more industrial history than most people realise. Best visited on a clear day when visibility is decent, otherwise you're just climbing stairs.