Bill & Bob's Sundial

A gallery dedicated entirely to sundials sounds like the sort of place that would put most people to sleep, but Bill & Bob's is genuinely quirky in a way that catches you off guard. Located just outside Ringwood, this unexpected collection showcases everything from traditional stone dials to modern sculptural pieces - the kind of passion project that only emerges when two people have spent years obsessing over something most of us walk past without noticing.

You'll spend a good hour here if you're actually interested, maybe less if you're just killing time between the holiday parks scattered around the area. The Shorefield sites at Oakdene Forest Park and Forest Edge are within easy driving distance, as is Dorset Glamping if you're staying glamorously. It's the sort of detour that works brilliantly for families with kids old enough to appreciate some oddness, or for anyone genuinely fascinated by how timekeeping devices sit at the intersection of art, science and garden design.

The real draw is that it's authentically made by people who care, rather than some slick corporate attraction. Whether you'll find it worth the trip depends entirely on your tolerance for specialist collections. If you're the type who can spend twenty minutes reading about how a particular dial works, brilliant. If not, Ringwood itself has enough pubs and lunch spots to make the journey worthwhile anyway. Do ring ahead though - opening hours aren't widely advertised, and you'll want to confirm admission costs before you make the drive.