Belton Estate (National Trust)

The grand house at Belton sits just outside Grantham like something from a period drama - all honey-coloured stone and perfectly manicured gardens that somehow don't feel pretentious. It's a proper 17th-century mansion owned by the National Trust, and you can wander through rooms stuffed with furniture, paintings, and the kind of family clutter that makes these places feel lived-in rather than museum-like.

The estate works best for people who actually enjoy grand houses - if you're after a quick snap for Instagram, you'll be disappointed. Spend a couple of hours inside, then drift outside where the grounds are genuinely lovely. There are woodland walks if you fancy stretching your legs, though it's not a fell-walker's destination. Families with teenagers who've been dragged to stately homes before might surprise themselves here; younger kids tend to get restless unless you're prepared to make a game of spotting the portraits.

It's free to wander the grounds if you're staying at Wagtail Country Park just down the road - perfect for an afternoon break from the caravan. Admission to the house costs extra but it's worth the money if you're into this sort of thing. Go midweek if you can; weekends pull the crowds, and Belton loses some charm when it's rammed with school groups.

Allow three to four hours if you're visiting the house and gardens. The village of Belton itself is pretty enough but unremarkable - Grantham's got better shops and pubs if you need to kill time.