3-Bedroom Hot Tub Lodge in Hadlow

Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit at West Kingsdown in Kent. It began as a grassy hollow used by cyclists and motorcyclists in the 1920s and 1930s, and became a tarmac car and motorbike circuit in 1950. It later hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986.

Tip: Check the event calendar on the Brands Hatch website before you go, as the track activity changes day to day and each event has its own Book Now link.

Rochester Castle stands on the east bank of the River Medway in Kent, guarding an important river crossing on the London road. Its great Norman keep of Kentish ragstone was built about 1127 by William of Corbeil, Archbishop of Canterbury. It has three floors above a basement and still stands 113 feet high. A tall forebuilding with its own defences protects the entrance.

Red House in Bexleyheath, south-east London, is the only house designed, built and lived in by William Morris, a pioneer of the Arts and Crafts movement. Morris and the architect Philip Webb designed it, and it was completed in 1860. It became a haven for Pre-Raphaelite artists, including Edward Burne-Jones.

Tip: Visits to the house are by pre-booked guided tour only, so book your ticket ahead. The nearest parking is Danson Park, about a mile away.

Bodiam Castle is a 14th-century moated castle near Robertsbridge in East Sussex. Sir Edward Dalyngrigge built it in 1385 with the permission of Richard II, ostensibly to defend the area against French invasion during the Hundred Years' War. It has no keep. Instead, the chambers were built around the outer walls and inner courts, with towers at the corners and the entrance, topped by battlements.

Tip: You don't need to book in advance, but the car park uses the JustPark app, so download it and set up an account before you arrive. The towers are reached by steep spiral staircases.

Scotney Castle is a National Trust property near Lamberhurst, set in a wooded valley. The star is the ruined medieval Old Castle, which sits on an island in a small lake. Sloping gardens run down to the water, with rhododendrons, azaleas and kalmia in spring, wisteria and roses in summer, and strong autumn colour. The garden is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Tip: The car park is small, so check the National Trust website for current parking booking rules before you set off.

The Tower of London is a historic castle and World Heritage Site on the north bank of the River Thames. William the Conqueror built the White Tower in the 1070s, and over the centuries the Tower has served as a royal palace, an armoury, a treasury and a prison. Today it is cared for by the charity Historic Royal Palaces.

Tip: The Tower is quieter in the afternoons, after midday. Check the website for temporary route closures before you visit.