Framlingham Workhouse

The workhouse at Framlingham is one of those places that properly gets under your skin once you understand what went on inside. Built in the 1830s, it's now a museum that walks you through the grim reality of Victorian poor relief - the segregated wards, the punitive routines, the institutional food served in the dining hall. It's not cheerful, but it matters.

You'll spend a good hour and a half here if you read the interpretive panels properly. The building itself is the story: narrow corridors, sparse rooms, that particular cold that comes from high ceilings and stone. Kids aged ten and up will get something from it, though younger ones might find it heavy going. History students and anyone interested in social policy will find it genuinely absorbing.

It sits just outside Woodbridge, which is itself worth a half-day trip for the riverside and independent shops. If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Savage Glamping is closest at under three miles - it makes for a solid morning activity before exploring the wider Deben Valley. Carlton Meres and Brick Kiln Farm are both within easy driving distance if you want something a bit more structured than camping.

Check ahead for opening hours and entry fees, as these things vary. The museum is run by volunteers, so it's worth ringing first to make sure you're not wasting a journey. It's not the sort of place you'd plan a whole holiday around, but paired with Framlingham Castle - which dominates the skyline just down the road - it gives you a proper sense of how people actually lived in this corner of Suffolk.