The Museum of Boardgames

Board games stacked floor to ceiling, vintage boxes you've never heard of, and the kind of place that makes you realise how much fun existed before screens. The Museum of Boardgames near Newent is genuinely absorbing - a proper collector's paradise where you can actually see the evolution of gaming from dusty 1950s rarities to modern designs that still crack people up after fifty years.

It's best suited to anyone who grew up with games or wants to understand why their parents were obsessed with Monopoly. Kids aged eight and up will get something from it; younger ones might fidget after half an hour unless they're the sort who love looking at old things. Adults who remember the games their grandparents played tend to linger longest.

You'll want to allow a solid hour to two hours depending on how deep you go. Some visitors spend three. There's real detail here - rule books, original artwork, explanations of how games sold or flopped. It's the kind of museum where reading matters, so it's not one for rushed visits.

The area around Newent has several caravan and camping parks within easy reach - Pelerine is barely a mile away, Haywood Farm sits at 2.7 miles. This makes it a decent wet-weather option or evening activity if you're based in the Forest of Dean for a week. It's not a full-day draw on its own, but combined with a park stay and local walks, it slots in nicely. Admission and opening hours aren't listed online, so ring ahead before you travel.