The R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant is a striking art deco facility on the Toronto lakefront, operating since 1941. Often called the “Palace of Purification,” it supplies nearly half of the city’s drinking water. The architecture is grand and meticulously preserved, with marble walls, bronze fixtures, and cavernous interior halls. The plant has served as a filming location for numerous movies and television shows, often depicted as a dramatic institutional or sinister headquarters. While the buildings are typically closed to the public, the grounds remain accessible year-round. Visitors can stroll the landscaped areas, enjoy views of Lake Ontario, or relax near the beach. The site offers a quiet escape with a timeless atmosphere, ideal for walking, picnicking, or simply pausing by the water.

Hengistbury Head is a place of wild, ancient beauty and a stark lesson in conservation. For over 12,000 years, this headland has witnessed human activity, but its most dramatic scars are from the Victorian era. Between 1848 and 1870, industrial quarrying stripped the protective ironstone from its cliffs, causing the loss of a third of the land to the sea in just decades. Today, it’s a meticulously protected mosaic of heathland, grassland and coastline — an internationally significant Site of Special Scientific Interest where adders, skylarks and rare natterjack toads find refuge. Your first stop should be the Visitor Centre, where you can pick up a trail leaflet and learn to read the landscape’s hidden clues, from its deep archaeology to the ongoing work of the rangers who balance public access with preservation. For your visit, wear good shoes and prepare for spectacular, sweeping views over Christchurch Harbour, Bournemouth Bay and the Isle of Wight. You have two distinct experiences here: the rugged south-facing pebble beach beneath imposing clay cliffs, and the soft, sandy expanse of Mudeford Spit, famously lined with colourful beach huts. Hop on the charming land train from the Hiker Café for a gentle ride to the spit, where you can enjoy a café and more facilities.

You will find this place close to the Historical Museum of Lodz on Plac Wolnosci. This charming museum offers archaeological finds from all around Poland as well as more modern exhibits on customs and local culture.