Munnings Art Museum

Alfred Munnings' old home in Dedham Vale is now a museum dedicated to the man who painted horses better than anyone else. You walk through rooms where he actually worked, surrounded by his canvases - mostly equestrian stuff, some landscapes, plenty of colour and movement. It's intimate rather than grand, which suits the work.

The house itself is the draw as much as the paintings. You get a real sense of how he lived and worked, and if you know anything about Munnings - he was a proper character, won the Turner Prize, went blind late in life but kept painting - it adds layers to what you're looking at. The gardens are worth a wander too.

Who'll get most from it? Serious art types and horse enthusiasts, definitely. Anyone with more than a passing interest in early 20th-century British art. It's not a massive collection, so an hour covers it comfortably, maybe ninety minutes if you linger. Families with younger kids might find it a bit of a stretch unless they're already into horses or painting.

It's a short drive east from Colchester. If you're camping at Ardleigh Caravan & Camping Park or one of the others nearby, this works well as a half-day outing alongside a walk through Dedham Vale itself. The village of Dedham is charming enough for a pub lunch afterwards. Worth checking opening hours and admission before you go - these smaller museums can be temperamental with their schedules.