Thaxted Library

Thaxted Library sits in the heart of this rather lovely medieval market town, about eight miles south of Saffron Walden. It's a proper working library - the sort of place where locals actually pop in for books, not just Instagram fodder - housed in a building that reflects the town's considerable age and character.

You won't spend hours here, but that's rather the point. Pop in on a Saturday morning when they're open 9 to 5, browse the local history section (genuinely useful if you're keen on Essex), and pick up whatever you need. Tuesdays and Friday mornings work too, though the hours are tight - 2 to half five on Tuesdays, 9 to 1 on Fridays. It's free entry, naturally.

Families with young children might find the children's corner worth a stop if you're in town anyway, though don't expect a major visit. Walkers passing through on the way to explore Thaxted's timber-framed streets and that rather impressive church will appreciate it as a proper local resource, not a tourist trap. History types researching Essex will find the staff helpful and the local collection solid.

If you're staying at one of the nearby glamping sites - Dairymeade Farm, Hidden Gem, or Readers Field are all within 3 miles - you could combine this with a morning wandering Thaxted's centre before heading out to the various country parks and walks in the area. It's the sort of small-town stop that rounds out a proper Essex weekend rather than a destination in itself.