78 Derngate

Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed this house in 1916, and it's one of only three he completed in England - which alone makes 78 Derngate worth tracking down in Northampton town centre. Walk through the front door and you're confronted with his signature art nouveau style: geometric patterns on the plasterwork, a distinctive colour scheme of blacks and purples, furniture that looks almost brutalist by today's standards. The interiors are the real draw here. Mackintosh was obsessed with every detail, and it shows - from the leaded windows down to the hinges on the doors.

Architecture enthusiasts will find themselves properly absorbed for at least two hours. History buffs interested in early 20th-century design will also get plenty out of it. Families with young children might struggle; it's not a hands-on space, and there's only so long a five-year-old will stare at a wall panel, however brilliant.

The house operates as a museum now, so you'll need to check opening times and admission fees before you head into town - details vary by season. Allow a good two hours minimum if you're going to do it properly. Since Billing Aquadrome and Riverview Park are only a few miles out, it makes sense to base yourself at one of the caravan parks nearby and use Northampton as your cultural anchor for a day trip. The house sits on a residential street, so parking in town is standard fare - arrive early if you can.