Bill Douglas Cinema Museum

The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum sits on the University of Exeter campus and is genuinely one of the most unexpectedly brilliant stops in the South West if you're film-mad. It's free to get in, which helps, but what really sets it apart is the breadth of stuff - we're talking everything from Victorian magic lanterns through to contemporary cinema equipment, plus an enormous collection of posters, scripts, and memorabilia that spans over a century of film history.

You'll spend a good two to three hours here if you're properly into it. Film historians and serious cinephiles will lose themselves completely among the archives. Casual visitors might find certain sections a bit dry unless someone in the group knows their Lumière from their Méliès, but the actual objects - the old projectors, the costume pieces, the early camera gear - tell their own story without needing to be a scholar.

It's genuinely worth a half-day detour if you're based near Exeter for a broader holiday. The museum sits within the university grounds, so it's easy to access and has that added bonus of being completely free. Families with older kids who enjoy a bit of technical history will get more from it than younger ones, though the visual side of cinema usually speaks for itself.

If you're glamping nearby at Devon Heaven Hideaways, this makes a solid rainy-day plan or a break from outdoor activities. Exeter itself is just a few miles away, so you can easily combine it with other town attractions.