Parc Howard Museum

The Victorian mansion at Parc Howard sits in proper grounds just outside Swansea, and it's one of those places that rewards actually stepping inside rather than just driving past. You get the house itself - all period rooms and the sort of domestic detail that makes history real - plus rotating exhibitions that change what there is to see. Allow a couple of hours if you're thorough, less if the kids are flagging.

It's free, which means zero guilt about leaving after an hour. Opening hours are Thursday to Sunday, 10:30 to 15:30, so it's not an everyday option but perfectly workable if you're based at one of the nearby parks - Gateway Resort and South Wales Touring Park are both three miles away, which is a short drive. The house itself appeals more to adults and older children with a genuine interest in how Victorians lived than to under-tens looking for interactive chaos, to be honest.

The grounds are the real draw if the weather's decent. There's space to wander and genuinely nice views across the area, making it a solid addition to a Swansea-based caravan holiday rather than a destination in itself. Pair it with time at Pembrey Country Park, just under six miles south, if you want a fuller day out. The café offers tea and cake - nothing fancy, but decent enough. Worth the detour from your pitch if you're staying locally and fancy a gentle morning that costs nothing.