Britten Studio

Suffolk's music scene owes everything to one man - composer Benjamin Britten - and his former studio remains a working space where his legacy lives on. Located near Saxmundham, this is where Britten composed some of his most important works, and you can still feel the creative energy hanging in the air when you visit.

What you get is a genuine glimpse into a 20th-century composer's working life, not some sanitised museum piece. The studio is intimate - proper small - which makes it all the more powerful. This isn't somewhere to wander round for hours; thirty minutes to an hour does it, and that's including time to absorb the atmosphere and understand what made Britten tick.

Music lovers and composers will find it absolutely absorbing. If your kids are into classical music or you're teaching them about British composers, it's worth the trip. General tourists without any connection to Britten might find it a bit specialist. The setting itself - rural Suffolk - is lovely, though, so you're not losing anything by the detour.

You're well-positioned if you're camping locally. Wantisden Park and Brick Kiln Farm Camping are both under five miles away, making this an easy morning or afternoon visit alongside beach time or exploring the surrounding countryside. Check opening hours before you go - this is a working studio, not a full-time tourist attraction, so visits can be by arrangement. Well worth ringing ahead.