Whitchurch Bridge

The Thames gets proper interesting just outside Wallingford, where Whitchurch Bridge spans the water with the kind of understated elegance that makes you wonder why it isn't plastered across postcards. It's a toll bridge - yes, you'll pay a quid or two to cross - and that's rather the point. Built in 1763, it's one of the last working toll bridges on the Thames, which means it's genuinely used by locals rather than abandoned to Instagram fame.

Walking across gives you the sense of actually being part of the river's story, not just observing it from a distance. The views upstream and down are lovely, especially in late afternoon when the light catches the water properly. It's not a destination unto itself - you won't spend hours here - but it's a genuinely worthwhile detour if you're exploring the Wallingford area, perhaps combining it with a riverside walk or a pint at one of the nearby pubs.

Families won't find much to occupy kids for long, though the toll booth itself holds a certain novelty. Walkers and local history types will appreciate that it's a working piece of Georgian engineering rather than a preserved relic. The toll is modest and the crossing takes minutes, but that's exactly why it works. If you're staying at Rolling Fields Glamping nearby, it's a scenic five-minute drive, making for an easy morning outing before tackling the South Oxfordshire countryside proper.