D.A Jones

The D.A Jones museum sits just outside Beccles, a proper little find if you're spending time in Suffolk. It's a working museum dedicated to printing and paper-making, housed in what was once an actual printing works - so you're not just looking at stuff behind glass, you're in the space where it all happened.

Inside, you'll see printing presses, some dating back generations, and the chance to watch demonstrations of the craft in action. If you get lucky with timing, you can see letterpress printing being done by hand, which is far more interesting than it sounds. The place has real character - the kind of museum where an enthusiast has clearly spent years gathering kit and getting things working again rather than something designed by committee.

This appeals most to anyone with a soft spot for how things used to be made, particularly print nerds and designers. Kids who've only ever seen digital printing might find it eye-opening, though they'll likely need some context to stay engaged for more than forty minutes. It's the sort of place you visit if you're already in the area exploring Beccles itself, not a standalone destination.

Beccles sits within easy reach of several caravan parks - Hidden Meadows and Pakefield Holiday Park are both just a couple of miles away. If you're based at one of the larger parks like Parkdean Resorts at Kessingland Beach, this makes a decent rainy-day option or a half-morning activity before heading to the beach. Worth checking opening hours before you plan a visit though.