St. John's House

The house sits on a quiet street in Alresford, Hampshire - a modest Georgian townhouse that tells you something about English domestic life in the 17th century. It's run by the National Trust, which means you're getting proper historical curation without the faffing about of a tourist trap.

Inside, you'll find period rooms laid out as they would have been during the English Civil War era. The furnishings are genuine and sparse - no velvet ropes and hushed whispers, just rooms you can actually look into and get a sense of how people lived. The kitchen is particularly worth lingering over if you're interested in how food was prepared before modern conveniences.

This works best for history enthusiasts and anyone keen on domestic archaeology. Children under ten will likely get bored within twenty minutes unless they're genuinely curious types. Allow about an hour if you're thorough, forty minutes if you're just passing through.

Admission is free for National Trust members, a few quid otherwise. Check ahead for opening hours before you trek into Alresford town - they're not always generous. It makes a sensible half-morning stop if you're based at one of the nearby parks like Holden Farm Camping or Woodlands Camping, all within five miles. The town itself has decent shops and a riverside walk if you need to stretch your legs afterward.