Great Globe

The Great Globe sits in Swanage, a proper Victorian seaside town on the Dorset coast, and it's exactly what the name suggests - a massive revolving globe that you can actually walk inside. It's part gallery, part curiosity, and the kind of thing that makes you stop and think about how someone decided this was a good idea. Spoiler: it was.

Inside, you'll find exhibition space that changes, though details are thin on the ground about what's currently on show - best to ring ahead or check when you're planning a visit. The globe itself is the main draw, mind you. It's wonderfully odd in the way that proper British attractions can be, the sort of place that appeals to anyone with a soft spot for slightly eccentric tourism.

Families with curious kids will find it worth an hour or so, though it's not the kind of place where you'll lose an entire afternoon. History types and anyone interested in unusual architecture or design will appreciate the sheer ambition of it. Walker types heading along the Purbeck coast will pass through Swanage anyway, so it's a natural stop.

If you're staying at Swanage Bay View Holiday Park or Ulwell Holiday Park - both within easy reach - this breaks up a beach day nicely without requiring a major detour. It's free or paid entry depending on what's on, and realistically you'll need thirty minutes to an hour. Go when the weather's decent so you can explore Swanage itself afterwards.