Wilberforce House

The Georgian townhouse on High Street in Beverley where William Wilberforce was born doesn't announce itself loudly, which somehow makes stepping inside more affecting. This is where the man who spent his life fighting the slave trade grew up, and the museum does a proper job of showing both the man and the enormity of what he achieved.

You'll move through period rooms that feel lived-in rather than sterile - his study, the drawing room, letters and documents that map out decades of parliamentary campaigning. The slavery galleries are unflinching without being gratuitous, which takes skill. Allow two hours if you're reading everything; an hour if you're just getting the gist.

Families with older children will find real substance here. Younger kids might find the detailed political history a bit heavy going, but the house itself and Wilberforce's personal story tend to grip them. If you're already staying at Manor Farm Camping or Spring Valley just outside Beverley, it's an easy walk into town and worth combining with a wander around the minster and the Georgian streets.

The museum is free, which is generous. Go on a weekday morning if you can - you'll have the place nearly to yourself. The staff know their stuff and aren't pushy about it. It's the kind of place that stays with you after you leave, which is exactly what it should be doing.