Alfred Cohen Museum

The Alfred Cohen Museum sits quietly in Wells-next-the-Sea, a place most visitors walk straight past without knowing what's inside. It's a small local museum that tells the story of this Norfolk coastal town through the eyes of one man - Cohen himself - whose collection forms the backbone of what you'll see here.

The museum houses a modest but genuine collection of local artefacts, photographs and maritime bits and pieces. There's nothing flashy about it. What you get instead is an honest portrait of Wells as it was - the fishing industry, the people, the everyday life that shaped the town. It's the sort of place that works best if you actually care about local history rather than ticking off major attractions.

This is squarely for history buffs and anyone with a genuine interest in how Norfolk fishing communities operated. Kids might find it dull unless they're already hooked on that sort of thing. Allow an hour maximum, and check opening hours before you visit - staffing can be sporadic at smaller museums like this one.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Pinewoods is closest at 3.6 miles - it makes a sensible rainy-day stop between beach walks. Wells itself is the real draw though, with its quay, independent shops and proper seaside feel. The museum works best as part of a wider exploration of the town rather than a destination in itself.