Harwich

If you've ever wondered what it's like to spend a cold, briny morning bobbing off the Essex coast, clinging bravely onto a mug of lukewarm tea as someone enthusiastically points at a damp rock that turns out to be a seal's posterior, then by all means, climb aboard the seal-watching boat from Harwich. Sure, your breath will fog the lenses of your binoculars, and yes, the morning departure is obscenely early-aim for the 8 a.m. slot if you prefer your mammals lively and your guides caffeinated-meaning it's best to book at least a couple of weeks ahead to snag a prime seat (budget around £30 per person plus a fiver if you expect a decent snack onboard). Bring layers, an absurdly oversized scarf, and the ability to nod convincingly when the captain, an improbably enthusiastic chap named Nigel or Clive, casually drops tidbits about local maritime history and smugglers who once used these waters to ferry contraband gin. Yet, despite damp socks and questionable comfort, there's pure, unabashed joy in watching these gloriously blubbery critters lounging insouciantly on the sandbanks, sunning themselves as if auditioning for some obscure Essex wildlife calendar. Go for the seals, stay for the salty stories; you'll return to shore chilled, mildly educated, and oddly satisfied-at the very least, it'll be one hell of a tale at your next dinner party.

There's something deliciously eccentric about bedding down for the night aboard a creaky, character-filled Thames sailing barge docked in Harwich's hallowed waters-a place so deeply British you half expect Admiral Nelson's ghost to stop by for a nip of rum. Once the sturdy transport workhorses ferrying cargo between London and the salty Essex coast, these lovingly preserved barges now offer cozy bunks and the gentle lullaby of tide lapping their wooden hulls. Book this quirky maritime sleepover a good month in advance: weekends fill quickly, especially in summer. Don't arrive empty-handed-bring a sweater (British evenings can be colder than Dickensian orphanages), your own bottle of single malt, and snacks fit to bribe a pirate. Budget around £150-£250 for the experience, but consider it an investment in nautical nostalgia, where sunset views from the deck will make you feel both gloriously adventurous and blissfully lazy at once. Morning is the real treasure, though. As the fog lifts and gulls heckle you awake, sipping strong tea under a damp, billowing sail, you'll understand exactly why sailors of old had sea shanties-and hangovers. Worth it? Absolutely. Even if just to tell your friends you've slept on a century-old boat in Essex waters, and lived to exaggerate the tale.