Wychurst

The remains of a Saxon royal palace sit quietly in the Kent countryside, just a short drive from Canterbury. Wychurst is an archaeological site that's genuinely significant - this was a major power centre during the Anglo-Saxon period, though what you actually see on the ground is mostly earthworks and the kind of lumpy field that means absolutely nothing to the untrained eye.

If you're the sort who gets excited about potsherd collections and can read a site plan like others read a map, you'll find this proper rewarding. The Regia of Kent project has done serious excavation work here, and the digital reconstructions they've built tell you what this place actually was - no small feat when you're staring at grass. For everyone else, it's a bit of a stretch unless you're already deep into Anglo-Saxon history. You won't find visitor facilities, interpretation boards, or much in the way of dramatic views.

It works best as part of a wider Canterbury trip. The city itself is thirty minutes away and has all the cathedrals and medieval streets you'd expect. If you're camping at Canterbury Camping and Caravanning Club Campsite or one of the glamping spots nearby - Glamping at Preston Court is five miles off - you could swing by Wychurst on a morning walk and combine it with proper attractions in town.

Check the Regia website before you go. Access details aren't always clear, and this isn't the sort of place where you can just turn up and wander about. Worth knowing about, but only if archaeology genuinely interests you.