Arundel Museum & Heritage Centre

The building itself is the hook - a converted schoolhouse right in the heart of Arundel's high street, impossible to miss when you're wandering between the castle and the river. Inside, you're looking at the sort of local museum that actually rewards a proper poke around rather than a quick tick-box visit.

It covers Arundel's life from medieval times through to the 20th century, with genuine oddities scattered among the expected bits. You'll see Victorian photographs that genuinely capture what the town looked like, period domestic stuff that makes history feel less abstract, and objects that locals have donated over the years - the kind of collection that's grown organically rather than been assembled by committee.

The museum works best if you're staying locally and have an afternoon to kill, especially if you've got mild history interests rather than being obsessed with costume drama. Kids under ten might find it a bit thin on engagement unless they're already into that period stuff. Allow ninety minutes if you read the labels properly.

With Ryebank Corner Glamping just a few miles out, it slots well into a weekend centred on the castle and riverside walks. Free admission makes it a no-brainer filler between better-known attractions rather than a destination in itself. Open it up, have a look, and if the displays click with you, you'll have stumbled onto something worth the time. If not, you've lost nothing but an hour.