Tetbury Police Museum & Courtroom

You walk into what was once a working Victorian police station and courtroom, and the place still feels like a functioning bit of local authority - all dark wood panelling and stern portraits. The Tetbury Police Museum occupies the original 1870s building right in town, and it's genuinely absorbing if you're the sort who appreciates how things actually worked rather than glossy interpretations. Real cells, real charge books, real courtroom furniture where actual sentences were handed down. The exhibits trace two centuries of policing in the Cotswolds - everything from Victorian-era uniform to Cold War spy equipment to modern forensics. You'll spend a solid hour here, maybe 90 minutes if you read everything. Kids who enjoy a bit of detective work find it engaging; history types will love the period detail and the insight into small-town law enforcement. Free admission, which is the main reason to slot it in between countryside walks. It's a proper working museum run by volunteers, not a slick visitor attraction - expect modest displays but genuine authenticity. Tetbury itself is a handsome market town with good pubs and cafes, so you can make an afternoon of it. The nearby campsites - Tobacconist Farm is particularly well-regarded - put you within easy reach for a couple of nights exploring the Gloucestershire countryside. This works best as a rainy-day diversion rather than a main event, but if you're camping locally and weather turns grim, it's well worth the walk from Stroud.