Luminare

Luminare is a museum dedicated to light and how it shapes the way we see the world, sitting just outside Watford in Hertfordshire. Inside you'll find interactive exhibits that let you mess about with prisms, shadows, and optical illusions - the sort of hands-on stuff that actually keeps kids engaged rather than glued to their phones.

It works particularly well for families with children aged five to early teens, though adults who like a bit of tinkering won't feel out of place. The exhibitions aren't massive, so allow a couple of hours maximum. You'll learn genuine things about physics without it feeling like a school trip, which is the goal.

The museum sits well within reach of North Hill Farm, a five-star holiday park just four miles away, so it makes a solid wet-weather option or a half-day activity if you're basing yourselves in the area. Watford itself is close by if you need shops or somewhere for lunch before or after.

One thing worth knowing: opening hours and admission fees aren't publicly listed online, so ring ahead before you trek out there. It's not the sort of place you stumble across and find open. That said, if your family enjoys science without the stuffiness, it's worth the call to check.