Forest Research Institute

FRI began life in 1878 as a small school for training forest officers, and by 1906 it had grown into the Imperial Forest Research Institute — one of the oldest forestry institutions in the world. What you see today is mostly thanks to the building completed in 1929: a huge Greco-Roman structure designed by British architect C.G. Blomfield, often called one of the largest brick buildings on the planet.

The campus spreads across a massive green estate, with wide lawns, tree-lined avenues and a botanical garden perfect for a slow walk. Inside the main building, six small museums cover everything from timber to insects to tree diseases — interesting for curious visitors and forestry students alike. It's still a working research institute today, so you're walking through a place that's equal parts history, science and quiet green space.