Bolton Museum, Aquarium and Archive

Bolton Museum sits in the town centre, a Victorian building that's seen better days architecturally but houses some genuinely worthwhile collections. The main draw is the Egyptian mummy - a proper showstopper if you've got kids in tow, though the label work could be sharper. You'll find local history exhibits, some decent pottery, and bits of industrial heritage that matter if you're interested in Lancashire's textile past. The aquarium section is modest - don't expect tropical fish tanks on any grand scale. It's more of a functional setup than a destination attraction, really.

Historyheads and families with young children will get the most mileage here. Allow a solid two hours if you're actually reading things; an hour-and-a-half if you're just browsing. The archive is tucked upstairs and requires advance booking if you need specific research done, though you can nose around the displays. Free admission is a proper bonus given the state of museum funding these days.

From Bury, it's only a short drive into Bolton proper. If you're based at Burrs Country Park - that excellent caravan site just outside town - this makes an easy rainy-day stop. Don't build your whole holiday around it, but combine it with a walk along the nearby town hall gardens and a decent lunch, and you've got a serviceable afternoon. The museum does its job without pretension, and for families covering Lancashire's industrial heritage, it's worth an hour or two.