Dovery Manor Museum

The manor itself is the main draw here - a proper Somerset farmhouse that's been collecting centuries worth of local life under one roof. You'll wander through rooms stuffed with everything from Victorian farming equipment to schoolroom desks, period kitchens to bits of old lace and needlework. It's the kind of place where every shelf tells a small story about how people actually lived in this corner of Somerset rather than some grand narrative about kings and castles.

Families with children under eight might find an hour enough, though older kids who like fossicking through old things could stretch that to two. History enthusiasts and anyone with a genuine curiosity about rural domestic life will get properly absorbed. There's no flashy interpretation here - just objects in rooms - which means you either click with it or you don't. The volunteer staff tend to be knowledgeable if you ask questions.

It's worth ringing ahead to confirm opening times and admission charges before you head over from Minehead - the website doesn't spell these out clearly. Combine it with a coastal walk or a stop at Minehead's seafront if you're camping nearby at either the Caravan and Motorhome Club site or Butlins. The manor sits close enough to town that it works as a rainy-day option without eating up half your holiday, though the village setting is pleasant enough for a proper afternoon if the weather's on your side.