Tolpuddle Martyrs

Six farm workers changed British history in this unassuming Dorset village back in 1834. The Tolpuddle Martyrs formed what was effectively Britain's first trade union, only to be transported to Australia for their trouble. Today, their story lives on through a museum and memorial in the village where it all began, just inland from Weymouth.

History enthusiasts will find plenty to absorb here, though families with younger children might struggle to hold their attention for more than an hour or so. The museum does a proper job of explaining why these agricultural labourers' secret oath-taking was considered so dangerous by the establishment of the day.

Walking around the village itself takes no time at all - you can see the famous sycamore tree under which the men met, plus the row of cottages where some of them lived. It's all rather sobering when you consider what they risked for the right to organise.

Tolpuddle works well as a cultural pit-stop if you're staying at one of the holiday parks around Weymouth. Haven Weymouth Bay and Seaview are both within easy driving distance, making this an educational hour or two that breaks up beach days nicely. The village lies right on the A35, so it's hardly a detour from the coast.