The Old Library Building

The Old Library Building in Derby is one of those Victorian structures that makes you stop and actually look up at the stonework. It's been converted into a museum that tells the story of the town's literary and cultural life, with exhibitions that change regularly enough to give you a reason to go back. You'll find manuscripts, first editions, and displays about Derby's printing heritage - proper interesting if you're the sort who gets excited about typography and bookbinding.

Historians and book lovers will absolutely get their money's worth here. It's not enormous, so budget a solid hour rather than half a day. The building itself is worth the visit even if you're not fussed about the exhibits - the Victorian architecture is genuinely lovely, all original features and that satisfying sense of real age.

If you're staying at Hill Farm Camping & Caravan Park just down the road, this makes for a good rainy-day outing. The walk into Derby town centre from the park is manageable, and you can combine it with a potter around the Market Place and some of the independent shops nearby. Kids under ten might find it a touch slow unless they're already readers, but older children doing school projects on local history will find solid material here.

Best visited mid-week when it's quieter. The staff are genuinely knowledgeable, not the usual museum volunteers who look like they'd rather be elsewhere.