Nymans House & Gallery

The ruins of Nymans House sit in a rather striking state of romantic decay, the sort of place where you can actually feel the weight of time pressing down on blackened stone walls. It's an Arts and Crafts mansion that burned down in 1947, and instead of being demolished and forgotten, it's been left standing - half-skeleton, half-memory - which is far more interesting than a pristine reconstruction would ever be.

What makes it worth the trip from Haywards Heath is that Nymans isn't just about gawping at architecture. The grounds themselves are genuinely lovely, with a proper garden that the family who built the house spent decades cultivating. You can wander through it at your own pace, no rope barriers or tour groups forcing the rhythm. There's enough to occupy a good two to three hours if you're the type who likes sitting on benches and actually looking at things, though an hour gets you the essentials.

Families with older children will enjoy it more than those with toddlers - there's no playground nonsense, but the space and the slightly eerie atmosphere of the ruined rooms appeal to kids old enough to imagine stories. If you're staying at Sunset Tree Camping nearby, it's easily managed as a morning or afternoon jaunt. History enthusiasts will find it properly absorbing; casual daytrippers after something Instagram-friendly might find it a bit too much standing around and thinking.

Check ahead for opening hours and admission charges - they're not listed here - but assuming it's still managed by the National Trust, entry is usually reasonable.