Bridgnorth Library

The library sits right in Bridgnorth town centre, a proper Victorian building that's been doing its job for over a century. Inside you'll find the usual suspects - books, computers, a decent local studies section - but what makes it worth a stop is the genuinely helpful staff and the fact it's actually a pleasant space to spend an hour or two if the weather turns grim.

Truth is, unless you're after something specific from their archives or need to check something up, this won't be a highlight of your trip. It's the kind of place you visit because you're already in town grabbing lunch, not because you've made a special journey. That said, walkers and history enthusiasts might appreciate the local studies collection - there's proper stuff about Bridgnorth's past tucked away upstairs.

It's free to use, open weekdays from half nine and Saturday mornings until three. Thursday and Sunday are out. If you're staying at Stanmore Hall Touring Park just down the road, or Park Grange Holidays a bit further out, it's handy to know about on a rainy afternoon. The town itself has enough going on - the castle, the Cliff Railway, decent pubs - that you won't feel you've wasted time if you do pop in. Just don't expect it to be a destination in itself.