Retro Computer Museum

The machine hums. You're standing in front of a Commodore 64, and someone's actually left it switched on - the green cursor blinking on a black screen like it's been waiting for you since 1985. This is the Retro Computer Museum, a proper nostalgia trip housed in Leicester, where rooms are lined with the computers that shaped an entire generation of British bedrooms.

You'll find everything from Sinclair Spectrums to BBC Micros, Amigas to Atari ST machines. Many are functional, which means you can actually sit down and play Manic Miner or load a cassette if you're patient enough to wait three minutes. It's hands-on in the best way - no velvet ropes, no "look but don't touch" nonsense.

Families with teenagers who think retro gaming is ironic will find their kids genuinely surprised by how addictive these things were. Adults who grew up with these machines will lose hours. Younger children might get restless after 90 minutes unless they're really into the games themselves.

The museum sits close enough to Leicester town centre for a half-day visit, easily combined with a longer park break at somewhere like Bradgate Park five miles out, or if you're camping at Fox's Furrow or Hill Top Caravan Park, it's a quick drive for a rainy afternoon. Admission details are worth checking before you visit - ring ahead or check their website for opening hours, as independent museums can be irregular with their schedules.