Whitehall

The Tudor farmhouse on Whitehall Lane in Cheam is one of those places you stumble past a hundred times before actually stopping. Built around 1500, it's a proper survivor - timber-framed, with those characterful wonky walls that make you wonder how it's still standing. Inside, you get a real sense of what domestic life looked like five centuries ago, with period furnishings and the kind of intimate detail you won't find in bigger museums.

It's run by volunteers who actually know their stuff, not the sort who just hand you a laminated sheet. They'll talk you through the building's evolution and the lives of the people who lived here. The space is compact - you're looking at maybe 45 minutes to an hour, tops, unless you're genuinely fascinated by Tudor domestic arrangements. Families with younger kids might find it a bit dry, but anyone who enjoys architectural history or social history will get something real from it.

The closest town is Chessington, which is handy if you're combining this with a visit to Chessington World of Adventures Resort nearby. Fair warning though: it's volunteer-staffed and opening times aren't always predictable, so check ahead before making the journey. Worth the effort if you're already in the area exploring Greater London's older corners, but not worth a special trip on its own.