Bideford Library

The building sits right in the heart of Bideford's town centre, a proper Victorian structure that's been doing the library thing for well over a century. Inside, you'll find the usual suspects - books, reference materials, free wifi - but what makes it worth a stop is the local history section. If you're curious about North Devon's past, the staff know their stuff and can point you toward documents and maps that never make it online.

This is really for people who want to slow down a bit during a park holiday. Not a destination in itself, but genuinely useful if you're staying at Owl Valley Glamping or Broad Park Camping nearby and fancy an hour indoors when the weather turns. Kids might find the children's section adequate for a browse, though they won't be entertained for long. History buffs and genealogy types could easily spend an afternoon here digging through records.

It's free to use, and the opening hours are sensible - weekday mornings and afternoons suit most people's schedules. The staff are friendly without being pushy. On a rainy Saturday morning, you could do worse than spending half an hour flipping through the local studies collection before heading to a cafe nearby. Don't expect anything fancy, but as a functional community space with genuine local knowledge, it does the job well.