Wimpole's Folly

You'll spot the tower long before you reach it - a solitary brick structure rising from the Cambridgeshire flatlands east of Royston like some Victorian's architectural daydream. Wimpole's Folly is exactly what the name suggests: a 19th-century folly built for no practical purpose beyond the owner's whim, and it's the sort of thing that makes you grin at the sheer oddness of it. The tower sits in open countryside, and getting there means a proper walk across fields, which sorts out the casual visitors from those genuinely interested.

The structure itself isn't enormous - you're looking at a brick tower that speaks to a particular era of English eccentricity when landowners could afford to build things simply because they fancied them. It's a straightforward appeal: history types will appreciate the Victorian-era backstory, walkers use it as a destination point on a longer ramble across the landscape, and families with older kids might find the slightly weird vibe engaging.

Access appears to be from outside, and information online is sparse - standard for lesser-known landmarks. Allow a couple of hours if you're making a proper outing of it, longer if you're taking the scenic route from one of the nearby parks. Highfield Farm Touring Park and Guilden Gate Glamping are both within five miles and well-regarded, making this a decent add-on if you're based locally. It's not a day-long attraction, but it's worth the detour if you're the type who finds Victorian folly oddly compelling.