Huntfun Newmarket

The National Horseracing Museum sits right at the heart of Newmarket's racing world, and it's immediately obvious why this town is horse country. Walking through the galleries, you get the full picture of British racing history - from the studs and gallops that made Newmarket famous to the actual horses and jockeys who shaped the sport. The museum occupies a proper Georgian townhouse, and the collection feels genuine rather than museum-like - vintage silks, racing plates, photographs that capture the grit and glamour of the turf.

This is unmissably good if you care about horses or racing at all. Even if you don't, the social history side is interesting - how breeding lines were kept, how the town itself developed around the racing calendar. The interactive bits work well, and there's enough detail to spend a solid couple of hours without it dragging.

Children will find some of it engaging, though younger kids might need coaxing past the heavier text sections. The outdoor gallops visible from Newmarket's surrounding landscape give the whole experience context - you can actually see where the training happens.

Entry costs a few quid, and it's free admission to wander the High Street stud farms if you're just after a look around. Allow two to three hours if you're thorough. Piggles Retreat, just five miles out, makes a convenient base if you're planning a longer Cambridgeshire break and want to explore Newmarket properly.