White Cliffs of Dover

The first thing that hits you at the White Cliffs isn't actually the view - it's the wind. You're standing on the edge of Kent with nothing between you and France but sea and spray, and the gusts come proper fierce off the Channel. The cliffs themselves are genuinely massive, those brilliant white faces dropping straight down to the shingle below, and on a clear day you can see right across to the French coast.

It's a straightforward walk from Dover town centre, though the path gets a bit steep in places and the last stretch to the cliff edge requires proper footwear. Most people allow an hour to get up there and absorb it all - longer if you're the type to sit and contemplate for a while. The chalk walls glow almost luminous on sunny days, which explains why they've been such a big deal in British culture for centuries. Families with kids will find it spectacular but shouldn't expect any facilities up top - bring water.

You're essentially paying for the walk and the view rather than paying entry, which is fair enough. Winter can be brutal and slippery, so spring through early autumn is better. Both Parkdean's St Margaret's Bay site and Kingsdown Camping sit within a few miles, making this an easy add-on to a Kent coast holiday. Worth doing once? Absolutely. Life-changing? No. But standing up there with the wind in your face and that vast drop before you, you understand why people have made such a fuss about this place.