Walmer Castle is one of Henry VIII’s so-called ‘device forts’, a network of defences built to protect England against possible French invasion between 1539 and 1547. It is similar to the larger nearby Deal castle, but quatrefoil in plan and was surrounded by a sea-filled moat. It was captured by Parliamentary forces in the Civil War. In the 18th century, it was adapted for domestic use and became the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The Cinque Ports are a group of originally five south coast ports (Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich) that had a joint responsibility to provide a royal fleet to defend the realm. Among the most famous Wardens were Winston Churchill, William Pitt and the Duke of Wellington – who died at Walmer Castle in 1852. There is a collection of items and furnishings associated with the Duke on display, including a pair of his famous boots, the chair he died in and his death mask. More recent Lords Warden still use private apartments above the gatehouse. These included Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who has a garden named for her in the lovely 8 acre grounds – which are a highlight of a visit, with wonderful views of the castle. Don’t miss the kitchen garden.

Ventnor Botanic Garden was created on the site of the former Royal National Hospital for Diseases of the Chest. Due to Ventnor’s microclimate, the garden is protected from cold northerly winds by chalk downs to the north and holds the warmth from its southerly aspect so well that frost is rarely known. With a climate allegedly more akin to the Mediterranean, the garden claims to be "Britain's hottest garden", where a wide variety of plants considered too tender for much of the mainland can be grown, and boasts an unrivalled collection of subtropical plants growing unprotected out of doors. Many of the plants are displayed in representations of geographical regions (eg Australia, South Africa) in an attempt to show them as they might appear in the wild. There is an interesting hot house too. Other facilities include a café and shop.
NB When visited in 2017, the gardens were pleasant to walk through, but looking patchy – possibly affected by wind – and the place had the appearance of needing investment. Some of the staff were distinctly disengaged.

To many people, Tower Hill is just an underground station on the District and Circle Lines, the station you get to visit the Tower of London, or walk from to get to the Dockland Light Railway. It is so much more than that.

Tower Hill was settled in the Bronze Age and was part of Roman London. There is a section of the 3rd century Roman Wall near the station.

It is also the location of the evocative Tower Hill Memorial, managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, commemorating the Merchant Navy and fishing fleet dead of the First and Second World Wars who have no grave but the sea.

Tower Hill was also one of several execution sites in London. In the south west corner is the site of the scaffold where an estimated 125 people were executed, mostly by beheading, between the 14th and 18th centuries. The last person executed there was Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat, in 1747.

There are also good views of the Tower of London.

St Michael's Mount is an evocative and picturesque island in Mount's Bay, with a small village, a castle and sub-tropical gardens. Access is by boat (of course) or on foot via a causeway at low tide. It is an ancient site, with plenty of legends and a chequered history. Once, it was the priory of the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy. Since c1650, it has been the home of the St Aubin family. The village had a population of 200+ in the 19th century - now it is about 30.

Stansted Park is a grand house and estate of 1800 acres with formal gardens, an arboretum, maze, light railway and other attractions. Originally part of the medieval Royal Forest of Bere, a house was built here in 1327 - a fragment survives as part of the chapel. A house was built in the 17th century on the site of the present one by the Earl of Scarborough, The estate was inherited by the 2nd Earl of Halifax in the 18th century, passing through various hands. A fire in 1900 destroyed the house, which was rebuilt in 1902. It came into the hands of the Earl of Bessborough in 1924 and is now run as a charitable trust.

Photo: Simon Burchell via Wikimedia.