The Cowley Library

The Cowley Library sits in Sussex, a proper working library that's open Saturday afternoons if you're in the Brighton area. It's a specialist collection rather than your standard public lending library - the kind of place where you'll find people actually browsing with purpose, not just killing time on the computers.

What you're looking at is a space that takes its books seriously. The focus seems to be on curated holdings, though details on the exact specialisms aren't widely advertised - that's half the charm, really. You'll need to check their website for what's actually on offer when you visit, and whether there's an entry fee.

It's worth a quick stop if you're already in Brighton and fancy something a bit different from the seafront. Wouldn't plan a day around it, but if you're staying at either Southdown Way or Foot of the Downs - both solid caravan parks within six miles - and you want a Saturday afternoon activity that doesn't involve the beach crowds, this could slot in nicely. Give yourself an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're a proper book person.

Really, this is for the sort of traveller who enjoys independent spaces and doesn't need everything explained. It's quiet, it's local, and it exists outside the usual tourist circuit. That appeals to some people enormously.