Leicester Museum and Art Gallery

The Leicester Museum and Art Gallery sits right in the city centre, and it's genuinely worth an hour or two if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Green Acres or Bradgate. You get a solid mix here - Egyptian mummies that'll grab kids' attention immediately, Roman artefacts from the local area, and a proper art collection that ranges from medieval to contemporary work. Nothing feels pretentious or overcrowded, which is refreshing.

The Egyptian section is the real draw for families. There's a mummy, hieroglyphics explained in ways that actually make sense, and enough interactive bits to keep under-tens engaged without feeling patronised. The art side leans heavily on local and British artists - some brilliant, some less so, but the gallery spaces themselves are light and easy to navigate.

It's free to get in, which removes the sting if you're only staying for an hour. Allow two hours maximum if you're thorough; there's not so much here that you'll feel rushed, but you won't be hanging around starving either. Weekday mornings are quieter than weekends.

The real value is as part of a wider Leicester trip rather than a destination in itself. Pop in between a walk around nearby Bradgate Park and lunch in the city. It's convenient, unpretentious, and doesn't demand much of your holiday time. Worth fitting in if you're based at Cossiwild Camping or Green Acres, less worth a special journey.