Surprise UK locations to visit

Stoke on Trent! Amazing history and stunning scenery. Easy to get to from so many places.

We had time to kill between flights at Stansted Airport once and went along to look at Mountfitchet Castle. It is a lovely place for kids - we only had DS2 with us, though, aged 34 - and it was a beautifully warm day. I was horrified at all the spelling mistakes on the explanatory signboards.

Yes, Moseley Old Hall is lovely. Lichfield is a nice old city and very small so nice to stroll about. The cathedral is stunning.

Worsley in Greater Manchester
Alderley Edge (though a bit gentrified now).
The woodlands just north of The Beacon near Loughborough.
Penkridge
The Framework Knitting Museum near Bunny...

I did pass the exam so I suppose it wasn't all bad.

I had to do exams for a professional qualification at Wolverhampton Poly as it was then. It was freezing cold although it was June, I got soaked when I got off the train. They were holding the exam in a basement room that was freezing cold and banging doors resonated round the room constantly. The invigilator was a retired member of staff and everyone who was passing the room called in for a chat.

It was the most horrific experience and i was so fed up that about 30 minutes into the exam I stood up and ripped up my answer paper. There was a stunned silence, the visitor left, the invigilator brought me more paper and silence reigned for the rest of the exam, 2 hrs I think. I was still wet and cold but at least I could hear myself think.

I don't think I could ever face Wolverhampton again. Forty years on I'm still traumatised.

Glad you enjoyed it but I'll have to give it a miss.

What a good idea for a thread. I don't think I can suggest anywhere particularly unexpected though but I'm agog for suggestions.