Rugby’s Got Balls

Rugby's Got Balls is exactly what it sounds like - a gallery in Rugby dedicated entirely to the sport that gave the town its name. You'll find everything from vintage match balls to modern memorabilia, tracing how the game evolved from its chaotic 19th-century roots into something resembling an organized sport. The collection is surprisingly engaging even if you're not a rugby obsessive. Kids tend to enjoy it more than you'd expect, especially if they've got any interest in sport or local history.

It's a small operation, so don't block out more than an hour unless you're genuinely keen on reading every placard. The real value is as a half-day detour while staying at one of the local caravan parks - Meadow Field Luxury Glamping or Caravanning and Camping at Manor Farm are both within a few miles. Pair it with a stroll around Rugby town centre, which has more character than most East Midlands market towns, and you've got a decent afternoon sorted.

Admission details aren't entirely clear from here, so ringing ahead is sensible before you visit. It's the kind of place that rewards local knowledge - the staff are usually chatty about Rugby's sporting heritage if you ask the right questions. Worth a look if you're camped nearby and the weather's turned dodgy, less essential if you're choosing between this and somewhere like Stanford Hall's grounds just down the road.