Teign Heritage - Teignmouth & Shaldon Museum

The twin towns of Teignmouth and Shaldon sit either side of the Teign estuary, and this museum does a proper job of telling their story. You get the usual seaside history - Victorian bathing culture, maritime heritage, all that - but what makes it worth an hour of your time is how it's actually tied to the landscape you're walking through. The museum covers everything from the geology that shaped these cliffs to the shipbuilding trade that kept both towns afloat for centuries.

It's the kind of place that works best if you're already in the area rather than a specific reason to make the trip. Families with kids aged eight and up will get something from it; younger ones might find it a bit dry. The real appeal is for anyone staying at one of the holiday parks nearby - Lady's Mile, Golden Sands, or Dawlish Sands are all within striking distance - and looking for a rainy afternoon option or a way to understand why the coastline looks the way it does.

Teignmouth itself is worth a wander afterwards. The seafront has actual character rather than the tired amusement arcade vibe you get further along the coast. If the weather's decent, walk across the pedestrian bridge to Shaldon and tackle the clifftop path back; you'll see more of what the museum's on about than any exhibition could show you. Allow a couple of hours total if you're doing the walk as well.