Nantwich Town Square

The black and white half-timbered buildings surrounding Nantwich's town square are the real draw here - and they're genuinely striking. This is proper Tudor architecture, the sort of place where you half expect someone in a doublet to round the corner. The square itself sits at the heart of this medieval market town in Cheshire, a place that's managed to avoid the worst of modern high street decay.

It's worth a wander rather than a rushed tick-box visit. The buildings are well-preserved, and there's enough going on - cafes, independent shops, the occasional street market - to justify spending an hour or two poking around. If you're into old architecture and don't mind steep crooked pavements, you'll find it absorbing. Kids might get restless unless they're the type who appreciate a good old building, though the market days do liven things up.

Free to look around, obviously - it's a public square. There's parking nearby and plenty of places to grab lunch if you need it. The real value is combining this with a stay at one of the nearby parks: The Willows Touring Park is just 1.5 miles away, making it an easy evening stroll into town. Little Ranch Glamping sits 2.3 miles out if you fancy something more upscale.

Go on a Saturday market day if you can - it brings the square to life properly. Otherwise any time works, though the light in late afternoon is rather lovely on those old facades.