Welbeck estate

The tunnels under Welbeck are the real draw here - a sprawling network of underground passages that the Duke of Portland had carved out in the Victorian era. Walking through them feels properly surreal, like stumbling into some eccentric nobleman's secret world. The estate itself sits just outside Worksop, and you can see why a man with that much money and that much privacy obsession would want to disappear underground.

You won't find the main house open to visitors, but the tunnels and some of the estate grounds are accessible, and it's genuinely fascinating if you've got an interest in quirky architectural history. History buffs will find the scale of the project jaw-dropping - we're talking miles of passage cut straight through the sandstone. Casual visitors might find it a bit niche, though. Expect to spend a couple of hours if you're doing a proper tour.

Group visits are typically by arrangement, so you'll need to contact ahead. It's the sort of place that works well as a detour if you're already exploring the area - Clumber Park is only a few miles away, so you could easily combine both for a proper day out. The caravan parks dotted around Clumber Park Lodges and Riverside give you good bases if you're staying longer term. Worth the effort if subterranean Victoriana appeals to you; skip it if you're after traditional stately home grandeur.