British Detours: 10 Hidden Gems

There's some debate over which is exactly Britain's oldest pub, but Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St. Albans, Hertfordshire makes the bold claim. Dating back to the 8th century, Oliver Cromwell even spent the night here during the Civil War.

Puzzlewood is an ancient forest located in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. Dr Who, Merlin and Jack the Giant Slayer have all been filmed here, and it is also believed to have been the scenic inspiration of J.R.R. Tolkien for "Lord of the Rings."

Just a five minute walk from Waterloo station lies a graffiti artistry heaven. Graffiti artists of all abilities are welcome to spray here and it was first used by Banksy in 2008 who wished to turn it into an "oasis of beautiful art."

Look familiar? Probably because its been used countless times for filming, including for Games of Thrones. The Dark Hedges are an avenue of twisted trees planted in the 18th century in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland.

Easily overlooked in the southeastern corner of Trafalger Square is London's smallest ever police station - the Lilliputian cop shop. Just big enough to fit a single person, it was built in the 1930's to serve as a watch-post. Sadly it is no longer used by the police, but instead as a storeroom for cleaners.

The Fairy Pools in Carbost, Scotland are accessible only by foot through the Glen Brittle Forest and are known for being one of Scotland's greatest natural wonders.

Abereiddy beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales features a unique blue lagoon. A breached quarry, it's a fantastic hidden gem for diving in the summertime.

Found in the middle of the City of London, Dennis Servers House spans four floors and four centuries. Open to the public, each floor is designed to represent a different historical period of London family life.

Since the 1500s this privately owned family gardens in Cornwall became more extravagant in design and structure as time went on. However, the gardens went into disrepair during WW1 and were not rediscovered until the 1990's. Fortunately they have since been restored and open to the public.

Inside the famous Leeds Castle you'll find The Dog Collar Museum, dedicated to historical dog collars. Spanning five centuries of doggie couture, this has to be one of the most unique museums in the UK.