Tom and Ted's

Two concrete elephants standing in an Essex field - that's Tom and Ted, and they're exactly as odd as they sound. Located near Colchester, this pair have become something of a local curiosity, a genuine bit of roadside Britain that refuses to fade away. They're impossible to miss if you know where to look, and that's rather the point.

There's not much to do here except stop, stare, and take a photo. It's a five-minute stop at best, the sort of thing you'll either find brilliant or completely baffling depending on your sense of humour. The elephants are weathered and worn, which somehow makes them better - they're authentically shabby rather than carefully maintained heritage.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Waldegraves or West Mersea are both within a couple of miles - it's worth a quick detour on your way to the coast. Don't expect facilities or visitor amenities. This is folk art in its purest form, the kind of landmark that exists simply because someone decided it should. Kids find them amusing for about ten minutes before wanting to leave. Adults spend longer wondering what possessed someone to put two concrete elephants in the middle of nowhere.

Admission is free, obviously. Parking depends on where exactly you stop. Go in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the worst of any traffic, though honestly it's quiet enough you won't struggle. It's the sort of Essex peculiarity that makes a decent story back home - proof that not every tourist attraction needs a gift shop or a café.