The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum

The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum sits tucked into Exeter's university campus, and it's genuinely one of those places that pulls you in whether you think you'll like it or not. Three floors of film history, from magic lanterns and early projection equipment through to modern kit, all arranged in this converted Victorian building that feels intimate rather than overwhelming.

You'll find yourself standing in front of actual cinema chairs from the 1920s, original posters that make you realize how bonkers film marketing used to be, and masses of equipment that explains why going to the pictures was such an event back then. There's proper depth here - this isn't a greatest hits reel, it's the real thing. Most people spend between two and three hours wandering through, though film buffs could easily camp here all afternoon.

It's free, which means no excuses not to go. The opening hours are decent (10am to 5pm, closed Christmas to New Year), and it works brilliantly if you're staying nearby - say at Devon Heaven Hideaways just outside the city, one of those glamping spots with hot tubs where you can actually relax after a day exploring.

Families with older kids will get something out of it, but younger ones might struggle past the first floor. Real cinema enthusiasts will find themselves taking notes. If you're in Exeter anyway, it's absolutely worth the detour into the university quarter - it's quieter than the high street and the museum itself has that rare quality of feeling like someone's genuine passion project rather than a corporate tick-box.