Arlington Museum

Arlington Museum sits just outside Hailsham in East Sussex, housed in what was once a working farmhouse. The collection focuses on local rural life and agricultural history - the sort of place where you'll find Victorian farming equipment, domestic objects from bygone eras, and photographs documenting how people actually lived in these parts over the last couple of centuries.

It's genuinely worth a stop if you're the type who finds old tools and domestic arrangements fascinating rather than just old. The scale is intimate, which means you won't spend three hours here, but that's rather the point. A solid hour or ninety minutes is the realistic window, depending on how much you pause to read the detail.

Families with young children might find it a bit dry unless they've got a specific interest in farm life. Older kids and history-minded adults will get more from it. The museum works well as a half-day addition to a park holiday in the area - Golden Cross Holiday Park and Warren Wood Country Park are both within spitting distance, so it's easy enough to slot in between other activities.

I'd suggest ringing ahead to check opening hours and admission costs, as details are thin on the ground. It's the sort of local institution that keeps irregular hours and might close for special events. Factor it in as a rainy-day option rather than your main event - that way you won't be disappointed if you find it's not your cup of tea.