Wasps nest?

[NiceCupOfTea]

Just noticed what looks a lot like a wasps nest outside our patio doors. No activity around it at all, saw 1 wasp earlier today in the living room but nothing else this year really. I assumed it was a previous year's that I'd not noticed, but going through my photo reel on my phone I can see that it wasn't there last September, but it was there a week or so ago. Can't find any pics in between.

So, when do wasps make their nests? And if there's nothing around is it dead? Or could it be there's a queen in there and they'll all be hatching in the next couple of days?

Slightly odd looking one as well, with a long vertical spout at the bottom:

[Count897]

Fucccckkkkkkk

Get your family out of the house now dude!

[DickyC]

A queen hornet, I reckon.

[Baldchap]

Squirt it with wasp powder at night.

[Mr Whippy]

I was pretty sure queens settled in spring, and you’d not get a new nest this late in the year?

A good chance it’s failing/failed.

[Unreal]

Thread has massive potential.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Mr Whippy said:

I was pretty sure queens settled in spring, and you d not get a new nest this late in the year?

A good chance it s failing/failed.

That was my thinking - too late in the year for a nest to be just starting with no workers buzzing around, however it definitely wasn't there last year

Will keep an eye on it for a week or two and if there's no activity I will smack it off with a golf club and hide inside the house just in case