Buckden Library

Buckden Library sits quietly in this small Cambridgeshire village just outside Huntingdon, and it's the sort of place you'd walk straight past if you weren't looking for it. But if you're camped at Grafham Water or one of the other caravan parks nearby, it's worth knowing about - especially on a rainy afternoon when the kids need something to do besides stare at the awning.

It's a proper community library, the kind that serves locals first and tourists second. You'll find the usual mix of books, computers with internet access, and a reading area if you just want to escape the campsite for a bit. Admission is free, naturally, and the staff are generally helpful without being fussy. The main thing is it exists as a functional resource rather than a tourist attraction - which means no queues and no entry fees, but also no grand expectations.

Really useful if you're self-catering and want to pick up a novel for the evening, or if you need to check emails and your caravan WiFi is patchy. Kids might entertain themselves in the children's section for thirty minutes or so, depending on age and desperation. Allow maybe an hour if you're browsing properly.

The village itself is fairly quiet - not a destination in itself, but convenient. If you're staying at Wyton Lakes or Quiet Waters and fancying a break from water sports and campsite life, a trip to the library and a wander round the village fills a couple of hours without fuss. Don't expect fireworks, but expect it to be there when you need it.