Totton Library

Totton Library sits quietly in Hampshire's commuter belt, just outside Ashurst, and it's one of those places you'd walk past without a second glance unless you actually needed it. Fair enough - it's a functioning public library, not a tourist draw. But if you're camping nearby at Ashurst Campsite or Matley Wood, and the weather turns, or you've got kids who need something to do beyond the campfire, it's genuinely useful.

You'll find the usual setup: books, computers, sometimes a small events space. It's the sort of library that serves locals properly rather than trying to be a heritage attraction or Instagram moment. Staff tend to be helpful, and it's mercifully quiet compared to the bigger town branches. The reading areas are fine if you need a few hours in the dry.

For a family holiday in the New Forest area, this works best as a rainy-day backup rather than a planned stop. Older kids researching something, or parents needing to kill an hour while tent fabric dries - that's the real use case here. It's not worth detouring from the main campsite attractions just to visit a library, obviously. But if you're already in Ashurst and the clouds roll in, you could do worse. Free admission at least gives you that option without adding to the holiday spend.