Stonyhurst Museum

The Jesuit college at Stonyhurst, just outside Clitheroe, has been educating boys for over 350 years. What strikes you first is the sheer scale of the place - a sprawling Victorian Gothic complex that looks more like a stately home than a school, which frankly it kind of is.

The museum itself is housed within the college grounds and covers the institution's remarkable history: manuscripts, religious artefacts, scientific instruments, and bits of memorabilia from centuries of teaching. You get a proper sense of how Catholic education evolved in England, particularly the tensions around religious freedom. The building itself deserves attention - those red-brick facades and cloistered courtyards have real character.

It works best for history buffs and anyone interested in religious heritage or education. Families with older kids (teens especially) will find more to grip them than younger ones would. The grounds are genuinely pleasant for a walk around, and Clitheroe itself is only a few miles away if you fancy lunch or a poke round the high street.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Little Oakhurst is practically on the doorstep - you could easily combine this with a ramble up Pendle Hill or a visit to Browsholme Hall. It's not the sort of place you'd spend half a day at, but an hour or so makes sense if you're in the area. Worth checking opening hours and admission fees before you go, as these things aren't always straightforward at working educational institutions.