The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain

The Showmen's Guild headquarters sit quietly in Staffordshire, a place most people drive past without noticing. It's the sort of institution that matters far more than it appears - essentially the trade body and social hub for Britain's travelling fairground operators, circus folk and showground workers. The building itself tells the story of generations who've made their living moving from town to town, running rides and attractions.

Inside, you'll find archives, memorabilia and the accumulated history of a profession that's been going for centuries. There's genuine character here - old photographs, documents, bits of kit from long-defunct rides. If you've got a fascination with social history, working-class traditions or the darker, more eccentric corners of British culture, this is worth an afternoon. Families with older kids might find it interesting, though younger ones could get restless; it's not a hands-on experience.

The catch is access can be tricky - opening hours aren't always published online, and you may need to arrange a visit in advance rather than just turning up. Ring ahead before making the trip from Burton-on-Trent, which is only a short drive away.

If you're based at Kingfisher Holiday Park nearby, it makes for a proper quirky diversion from the standard park routine. It's the sort of place that reminds you Britain's social history runs far deeper than the usual tourist circuits acknowledge.