Midhurst Museum

A modest Victorian building in Midhurst's high street houses a collection that tells the story of this market town without any fuss or pretence. You'll find Roman artefacts, medieval pottery, and exhibits on the local coaching trade that once made Midhurst matter. The free admission is a genuine bonus - no guilt about popping in for half an hour if that's all you've got.

It's the sort of place where locals volunteer and it shows. The tea rooms attached mean you can make an afternoon of it without feeling pressured. Worth allowing an hour, longer if you're genuinely interested in Sussex history. Families with younger kids might find it a bit thin on engagement, but older children studying local history will get something real from it.

The museum works well as a stop when you're based at one of the nearby sites - Graffham Camping is only 3.8 miles away, and Bow Hill Farm equally convenient. Petworth's grand house is the obvious draw for the area, but this gives you the genuine working town context that makes Petworth make sense. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. It's proper Sussex heritage, the kind that doesn't shout about itself.