Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

The smell hits you first - salt water, rope, and something metallic that speaks of centuries spent building Britain's naval might. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard isn't just a museum, it's an actual working shipyard where you can walk the same cobbles Nelson's crews walked, see the HMS Victory with her original timbers still creaking, and descend into the Mary Rose, Henry VIII's ship raised from the Solent after 437 years on the seafloor.

You'll spend at least three hours here if you're doing it properly, longer if you're the type to read every placard and climb into gun decks. The Victory alone demands respect - she's not some polished replica but the real thing, surprisingly cramped and visceral. The Mary Rose museum is genuinely moving, with Tudor artefacts that were waterlogged and forgotten until the 1980s.

Families with kids aged eight and up will get proper value. Younger children might find the scale overwhelming and the crowds (it gets busy) frustrating. History enthusiasts will lose themselves for hours. Walking types should know it's fairly compact but involves some stairs and uneven surfaces.

Admission isn't cheap, so factor that into your budget. It's about 30 minutes from Lee-on-the-Solent, where you can base yourself at Kingfisher Caravan Park or Hayling Island Holiday Park if you're after a proper seaside break. The dockyard rewards a full day - rushing it is pointless. Winter is quieter and the light's golden; summer means queues but better weather for exploring the outdoor areas.