Museum of Richmond

The Museum of Richmond sits in the heart of Richmond itself, though it's easy to walk straight past if you're not looking. Inside, it's a proper rabbit hole of local history - the sort of place where a 20-minute visit turns into two hours because you keep finding something odd or interesting in the next display case.

You'll find everything from Victorian shopkeepers' till receipts to pottery shards dug up locally, plus a decent collection of maps showing how Richmond's riverfront changed over centuries. There's a fair bit about the royal connections too, which makes sense given the town's proximity to the palaces. The museum doesn't shout about itself, which is half the charm - it feels like a community project rather than a polished attraction.

It works well for history types and anyone keen on how ordinary people lived in a specific place. Kids might find it a bit text-heavy unless they're already interested in local heritage. Allow an hour, maybe 90 minutes if you read everything.

Nearby, Chessington's only a short drive away, and if you're staying at Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site (about 5.7 miles out), Richmond makes an easy half-day trip. The town itself - with the riverside walk and decent pubs - is worth as much time as the museum. It's free entry too, which takes the sting out of a rainy afternoon.