Collonade

The Collonade at Mells is a rather unexpected find in the Somerset countryside - a neoclassical pavilion that feels oddly grand for such a quiet corner of the Mendips. It's essentially an 18th-century folly housing a small museum, the sort of place locals know well but visitors often miss entirely.

What you'll actually find inside is a modest collection tied to the area's history, though I'll be honest - the building itself is more interesting than the exhibits. The architecture is the real draw: those columns, that austere elegance, all plonked down beside the parish church. You can walk round it in twenty minutes, though the surrounding Mells village is genuinely worth a proper poke around afterwards.

It's not a destination on its own, frankly. You don't book a holiday to Somerset to spend an afternoon in the Collonade. But if you're staying at one of the nearby glamping sites - Glamping on the Hill is only a few miles away and genuinely excellent - and you're exploring Mells anyway, then slip inside. The admission fee isn't steep, and it breaks up a village wander nicely.

Families with young children might find it a bit dull; history enthusiasts will appreciate the period detail. Late afternoon is quietest. The real value comes from treating it as part of a broader ramble around Mells itself, which has proper character - the church, the high street, decent spots for tea.