Hall Court

Hall Court sits just outside Tavistock as a solid piece of Devon history - a manor house that's been around since medieval times, though what you see today is mostly Georgian reworking. It's the sort of place that rewards a proper look rather than a quick drive-by, especially if you're into how ordinary gentry actually lived rather than the stately home circuit.

The house itself tells the story of several centuries of English life compressed into one building. You'll spot the older bones underneath the later additions if you know what to look for - timber frames, the way rooms connect, the windows that were added when fashion changed. It's genuinely interesting if you care about that sort of thing, less so if you're after grand staircases and velvet ropes.

Families with teenagers who've done the castle tour three times might find this refreshingly different. Younger kids will likely get restless fairly quickly. Anyone into vernacular architecture or the actual history of how people lived will spend a good hour here without complaint.

Based near Tavistock, it works well as part of a walking holiday around Dartmoor - there are decent pubs in town and both Sunnyside Eco Glamping and Woodovis Holiday Park sit within easy reach if you're basing yourself locally. The countryside around here is proper Devonshire, rolling and green.

Best to ring ahead about opening hours and admission before you trek out - these smaller houses can keep irregular schedules.