Showfields

This working library on the edge of Tunbridge Wells is a proper local institution, not the sort of place you'd stumble across by accident. Showfields houses an impressive collection of books, archives and local history materials - the kind of quiet resource that appeals to serious researchers and genealogy enthusiasts rather than casual browsers. The opening hours are limited but deliberate: Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, Friday lunchtime, and Saturday mornings. It's free to get in, which is always welcome.

You're looking at an hour or two here, depending on what you're hunting for. History types will find it rewarding - the local Kent collections are thorough - but don't expect the buzz of a public library. This is intimate, scholarly stuff. If you're camped at one of the nearby sites like Apple Acres or Hopgarden Glamping, it's a decent rainy-day option, though families with young kids might find it a bit static. Adults interested in local heritage or doing family research will get the most from it.

The proximity to Tunbridge Wells proper means you're never far from better-known attractions if this turns out quieter than expected. Worth a visit if you're in the area for a week-long caravan holiday and fancy something low-key away from the main tourist drag.