Witley Court & Gardens

What strikes you first about Witley Court is the sheer scale of the ruin. This isn't some modest pile of stones - it's a proper Victorian mansion, grand and sprawling, that's been left to the elements for decades. The house itself was destroyed by fire in 1937, but the bones remain, and wandering through the roofless rooms gives you an oddly moving sense of how the wealthy lived in the 19th century.

The gardens are the real draw, though. The formal grounds stretch across the estate with Victorian planting schemes, terraces, and those spectacular fountains - the Perseus and Andromeda fountain is particularly impressive when the water's running. It's the sort of place that rewards a proper wander rather than a quick look. Families with kids aged seven upwards will get something from it; younger ones might lose interest fairly quickly once they've clambered about the ruins.

You'll want to allow a good two hours here, maybe three if you're the type to sit and sketch or photograph everything. The site's managed by English Heritage, so expect to pay admission - it's worth the cost. Spring and summer are obviously nicest, when the gardens look their best and the fountains are more likely to be operational.

Based just outside Worcester, it's an easy pairing with a holiday park stay - Pennlake Vale Glamping is barely ten minutes away, or if you want something with more facilities, The Coppice Leisure Park offers better amenities. Neither is going to blow your mind, but both give you a decent base for exploring this corner of Worcestershire.