New Tower Berwick

The New Tower sits right on Berwick's ramparts, a squat stone fortress that's been keeping watch over this border town since the 1540s. It's one of the few buildings to survive Henry VIII's military remodelling of Berwick, and stepping inside feels like you've walked into a proper slice of Tudor England - all low doorways, thick walls, and the kind of defensive thinking that made sense when raids from Scotland were a genuine threat.

The museum inside covers Berwick's fractured history - the town changed hands between England and Scotland more than any other settlement on the border, which makes for genuinely compelling stuff if you're into that sort of thing. The views from the top are excellent, overlooking the Tweed and the classical bridge that defines modern Berwick.

It's a short visit - ninety minutes tops if you're thorough - which makes it ideal as a rainy-day option rather than a main event. The climb involves narrow spiral stairs, so it's not buggy-friendly, and younger kids will lose interest once they've rung the bell and looked out the windows. History enthusiasts and anyone with a proper interest in the Scottish Borders will find it worthwhile; casual tourists might feel it's a bit slight for the effort.

Berwick Seaview is practically on your doorstep at half a mile away, while Haven Berwick is just fifteen minutes' walk. Both caravan sites sit perfectly positioned for exploring the ramparts themselves, which you can walk for free and which honestly offer better views than the tower does.