Heugh Battery Museum

The Heugh Battery sits right on Hartlepool's seafront, and what you're walking into is a genuine WWI gun emplacement complete with original fortifications and underground chambers. It's properly atmospheric - the sort of place where you can actually picture soldiers standing watch over the North Sea, waiting for German warships that never quite came.

You descend into concrete bunkers to see the battery's inner workings, with explanations of how the coastal defence system operated between 1915 and 1918. It's hands-on enough to keep most visitors engaged for a couple of hours, though there's not masses of space - families with young children might find it a bit cramped after a while. The views back towards Hartlepool town are worth the walk up though.

It's free to enter, which is decent value. The place closes from late November through early March, so plan your visit for the warmer months if you can. Allow 90 minutes minimum if you're reading the panels properly. History enthusiasts will get the most from it - it's detailed without being dry, and there's enough technical detail about gunnery and WWI strategy to satisfy most buffs.

If you're staying at Parkdean Resorts Crimdon Dene Holiday Park just outside Hartlepool, it's easily managed as a half-day trip. Pair it with a walk around the town's maritime quarter or the headland itself for a proper seaside afternoon.