Lydia Eva & Mincarlo Ltd

Two old fishing boats sit permanently moored in Lowestoft harbour - the Lydia Eva and the Mincarlo. They're working vessels from a different era, and wandering around them tells you more about East Anglian fishing than any museum display could manage.

The Lydia Eva is the real draw. Built in 1930, she's a steam drifter and one of the last of her kind still afloat. You can climb aboard and poke around the cramped cabins, peer into the engine room, and get a proper sense of what life was like for the men who worked these boats. The detail is striking - from the worn brass to the narrow bunks where crews would grab sleep between hauls. The Mincarlo, a slightly younger motor vessel, sits alongside and gives you a sense of how fishing technology evolved.

This appeals most to anyone with a genuine interest in maritime history or industrial heritage. Kids might find it interesting for half an hour, but it's not a theme park - expect rusted railings and the smell of salt and diesel. Winter visits feel particularly atmospheric, though summer brings the harbour to life with proper working boats moving about.

Admission details aren't clear from here, so ring ahead. Allow 45 minutes to an hour if you're thorough. It's free to walk around the harbour itself, but accessing the boats properly usually costs a few quid.

Stay at Pakefield Holiday Park or Azure Seas, both within walking distance, and you've got the boats on your doorstep. Good for anyone after working heritage rather than seaside fluff.