Lydiard House Museum

The moment you walk through those Georgian doors, you're transported into a world where everything's been left exactly as it was. Lydiard House sits just outside Swindon on proper countryside, and it's one of those places that rewards a slow afternoon rather than a quick dash round.

This isn't a museum that's been sanitised to death. The rooms still feel lived-in - furniture worn in the places where actual people sat, family portraits staring down from walls with expressions that range from stern to almost bemused. You'll find everything from Renaissance paintings to Georgian wallpaper, and the sort of domestic detail that makes history stick: a child's toy, a letter half-finished on a desk, the kitchen where generations of the St John family actually cooked.

The grounds are the real draw, though. The park opens up around the house with that slightly unkempt charm you want from a country estate - genuine rather than manicured. Fair warning: there's a lot of ground to cover if you're thorough, and the interior can feel cramped if it's busy.

Walkers and history types will get the most from this. Families with young children might find it a bit slow unless they're genuinely into old houses. Allow two to three hours minimum if you want to do it justice. If you're staying at Park Farm Campsite nearby, it's an easy morning out before heading into Swindon proper. Best visited on a quiet weekday when you can actually hear yourself think.