Wisbech

Standing on the edge of the Fens, this market town feels like England's answer to the Netherlands. Flat as a pancake for miles around, with drainage channels cutting geometric lines through black earth that's been reclaimed from the sea over centuries. The Roman Sea Bank still marks where the coastline once ran - a reminder that this was all marsh and water not so long ago.

Wisbech itself has seen better days, truth be told. The Georgian terraces along the River Nene hint at its past prosperity as a port town, but the high street feels a bit tired these days. Still, there's enough to warrant a proper look around. The Octavia Hill Birthplace Museum tells the story of the National Trust's co-founder - she grew up here before revolutionising housing reform in Victorian London.

Light Cinema keeps things modern with the latest releases, while a cluster of war memorials around town speaks to the area's military history. The countryside is the real draw though. Those dead-straight roads and endless skies create a landscape that's either deeply atmospheric or utterly bleak, depending on your mood and the weather.

Getting here is straightforward enough - King's Lynn is the nearest proper town, about 20 minutes north on the A47. The fenland location means you're well-placed for exploring this unique corner of England, where the horizon seems impossibly distant and every village sign becomes a landmark in the flat expanse. Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks gives you a base for venturing into proper fen country without the bother of city parking.