Discover Bucks Museum

The county museum in Aylesbury tells the story of Buckinghamshire through objects rather than walls of text, which is refreshing. You'll find everything from Iron Age finds and Roman pottery to the sort of domestic bits that actually show how people lived - kitchen tools, children's toys, bits of jewellery. The building itself is pleasant enough, though not grand, and the displays are straightforward without being dull.

It works best for families with kids old enough to read labels and ask questions, and for anyone interested in local history who fancies something less exhausting than a grand stately home. Expect to spend 90 minutes here comfortably. The museum is free to enter, which helps when you're weighing up a rainy afternoon against other options in Aylesbury.

If you're camped at one of the nearby sites - Orchard View Farm is closest at under five miles, or Hill Farm and Wingbury if you've chosen the Chiltern spots further out - this makes a solid half-day addition to a park holiday. It's worth visiting on the way back from a walk or as a break between outdoor bits, rather than planning your entire day around it. Aylesbury itself isn't exactly thrilling, but the museum is the sort of place that reminds you there's more to a town than its high street.