Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery

The museum sits right in Peterborough city centre, housed in a Victorian building that's worth a look even before you step inside. You get a proper mix here - Egyptian mummies, Anglo-Saxon finds from the nearby cathedral excavations, and a decent art collection that swings from local painters to more recognisable names. The Egyptian section is the real draw, honestly. Kids tend to gravitate straight to the wrapped bodies and ancient artefacts, which means at least an hour disappears without complaint.

The art gallery upstairs won't blow your mind, but it's pleasant enough if the weather's foul and you've got an afternoon to kill. Local history buffs will appreciate the Anglo-Saxon material, given Peterborough's significance as a monastic settlement. Free entry, which is always a bonus.

Allow two to three hours if you're actually reading the labels. One if you're just letting the kids burn off energy among the display cases. Don't expect world-class presentation - it's a solid regional museum, the sort that does what it sets out to do without pretension.

If you're based at Ferry Meadows or Nene Outdoors just down the road, this makes a natural wet-weather plan. Both campsites are close enough that it's barely a ten-minute drive in. Pairs well with a wander round the cathedral precinct afterwards - you can knock out a good half-day culturally and still have time for the parks' own activities.