Wembley Stadium

The arch is the first thing that hits you - that white steel curve rising up above the North Circular like nothing else in London. Wembley Stadium sits on the edge of Hertfordshire, just east of Elstree, and it's impossible to miss whether you're driving past or making a pilgrimage to catch a match.

Inside, it's a proper modern arena. The current ground opened in 2007, replacing the old stadium that had stood since 1923, so there's history here even if the building itself is relatively young. You can do a stadium tour when there's no event on - walking the concourses, checking out the dressing rooms, standing pitch-side where the magic happens. It's the sort of thing football fans will spend three hours doing without complaint, while a casual visitor might be satisfied in 90 minutes.

Match days are the real draw, obviously. If you've got tickets to an England game or a cup final, you're in for something special. The atmosphere on those days is genuinely electric. Non-match days are quieter affairs - the tours are decent but lack the energy that makes sport tick.

For a park holiday based near Elstree Park, Wembley's within striking distance if you fancy breaking up countryside time with something more metropolitan. The tour operates most days outside of events, though prices and exact opening times shift around. Best to check ahead rather than turning up hoping. Worth the trip if you're already in the area and someone in the group is football mad. Everyone else might find it a touch soulless without a crowd.