Canterbury Roman Museum

Walk down a Canterbury street and you're literally standing on 2,000 years of history - the Roman Museum sits bang in the middle of the city centre, built around actual Roman remains that were excavated right there beneath your feet. It's intimate rather than grand, which suits the subject matter perfectly.

Inside, you'll find mosaics, pottery, glass, coins and everyday objects that tell you far more about Roman life than any textbook. There's a reconstructed Roman kitchen, jewellery that wouldn't look out of place today, and enough small finds to keep you engaged for a solid hour or two. Kids tend to respond well to it - there's something about holding a 1,900-year-old coin in your hand that makes history click.

The museum works particularly well if you're already exploring Canterbury Cathedral and the medieval town centre. It fills in the layers underneath, gives you context for why this place mattered. You're not trudging to some out-of-town heritage centre; it's convenient, right there between the shops and the cathedral.

If you're camping at Canterbury Camping and Caravanning Club (just 1.3 miles away) or glamping nearby at Canterbury Lodges, this is an easy walk-in rainy-day option. Worth allowing an hour minimum, longer if you're genuinely into Roman Britain. It's the kind of museum that doesn't waste your time but doesn't overstay its welcome either.