Red House Museum

The Red House sits just outside Christchurch in Dorset, a Georgian townhouse that tells the story of local life across several centuries. Inside you'll find period rooms furnished as they would have been, along with collections of domestic objects, textiles and local history that actually feel like someone's left them there rather than arranged them for a museum display.

It's the kind of place history enthusiasts will spend a good couple of hours in, picking through the details. Families with younger kids might find it a bit slow - there's not much interactive stuff, and an eight-year-old will likely get restless after forty minutes. Older children interested in how people actually lived will do better. The rooms themselves are quite intimate, so it doesn't feel overwhelming.

Admission details aren't clearly flagged online, so ring ahead or check when you arrive. You'll want to allow at least ninety minutes, longer if you read the information cards properly. Wednesday to Saturday it's open 10am to 4pm, Sundays noon to 4pm - closed Mondays and Tuesdays entirely.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Sandhills, Meadowbank or Hoburne are all within walking distance - this works well as a rainy-day option or a gentle morning before heading to the beach. It's also handy for breaking up a longer stay in the area. The New Forest sites are close enough too if you fancy combining it with forest walks.