Corfe Castle Town Trust Museum

Free admission gets you straight through the door of this proper local museum that tells the story of Corfe village beyond the famous castle ruins. Housed in a lovely old building on the main square, it's run entirely by volunteers who clearly care deeply about preserving the area's heritage.

Inside you'll find everything from Roman finds to Victorian photographs, with particularly good displays on the Purbeck stone quarrying that shaped this landscape for centuries. The medieval section covers daily life when the castle was in its prime, while upstairs focuses on more recent history including the devastating fire of 1762 that destroyed much of the village.

This works brilliantly for families staying at nearby parks like Burnbake Forest Lodges or Ulwell Holiday Park - it's a perfect rainy day stop that'll give context to your castle visit. Kids will enjoy the hands-on elements and dressing-up box, though an hour is probably enough for most.

The volunteers are tremendously knowledgeable and happy to chat about local walks and lesser-known spots around Wareham and the Purbeck peninsula. It's exactly the sort of community museum that makes you appreciate how much history lies beneath your feet in places like this. Well worth combining with the castle ruins for a proper afternoon out.