Samuel Johnson

Dr Johnson's birthplace sits on Breadmarket Street in Lichfield, not Burton-on-Trent as you might expect, though Burton's only twenty minutes away if you're camping at Cannock Chase. The house itself is a modest Georgian townhouse, red brick and straightforward - nothing grand about it. Inside you'll find first editions, personal effects, and the kind of domestic detail that makes the man feel real rather than just a name in a dictionary.

It's a one-to-two-hour visit, depending on how deep you want to go with the audio guide and exhibits. The rooms are small and intimate, which works either for or against you - brilliant if you want to feel close to 18th-century life, claustrophobic if you're not especially keen on Johnson himself. History buffs and literature types will find it worthwhile. Kids under ten might struggle with the reading-heavy displays unless they're already engaged with the period.

Admission costs a few quid and it's run by the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum trust. Go on a weekday morning if you can - weekends bring school groups and it gets properly rammed. The town of Lichfield surrounding it is worth a proper wander anyway, with the cathedral and market square keeping you occupied for the afternoon.

If you're basing yourself at Cannock Chase for a week, this pairs well with a Lichfield day trip. Don't expect some lavish country estate - this is urban heritage, intimate and unshowy, which is rather fitting for a man who valued clarity and common sense.