Phillip Larkin

The Phillip Larkin Gallery sits in Beverley, a market town that feels properly removed from the rush. You're walking through streets lined with Georgian buildings, then you duck into this modest space dedicated to one of Britain's most important twentieth-century poets. It's not huge, and that's rather the point.

What you get is a real sense of Larkin the man, not just the myth. There are manuscripts, first editions, photographs from his years as a librarian at the University of Hull - just down the road. His typewriter is there. You can see his handwriting, the corrections, the false starts. If you've read 'This Be The Verse' or 'Days', standing in front of the actual papers hits different.

This is squarely for people who actually care about poetry or mid-century literature. Casual visitors might find twenty minutes enough. But serious readers, academics, anyone who's spent time with his work - they'll linger. There's something affecting about seeing the physical objects behind the words.

Beverley itself rewards a proper afternoon. The Minster is exceptional, the town has proper cafes and pubs, and you're well-positioned for exploring the quieter corners of East Yorkshire. If you're staying at Manor Farm Camping nearby, it's an easy drive in. The gallery's small enough that you won't need more than an hour, but pair it with the town's architecture and you've got a solid day.