Dover Museum

The Dover Museum sits right in the town centre, housed in a Victorian building that's seen better days but contains some genuinely absorbing stuff about this corner of Kent. You're looking at Roman artefacts, medieval finds, and - most impressively - the Dover Bronze Age Boat, a 3,500-year-old vessel that's both fragile and fascinating in equal measure.

The ground floor covers Dover's Roman period and Saxon settlement with decent interpretive panels, though the lighting could be brighter. Upstairs focuses on the medieval period and the town's role during various conflicts. It's all rather earnest and thorough, which appeals to history buffs but won't hold the average eight-year-old for more than an hour.

Allow about ninety minutes if you're actually reading things. The admission is free, which is generous given the collection quality - though you might want to make a donation. Check their website before heading over, as opening hours seem to shift seasonally.

If you're staying at Kingsdown Camping just up the coast, this makes a decent rainy-day option when the beach isn't calling. It's not worth a special journey on its own, but combined with Dover Castle and the White Cliffs, it rounds out a proper day exploring the area. The staff are helpful and there's a small gift shop that doesn't oversell itself.