Gruffalo

Inside a surprisingly spacious gallery space near Bishop Auckland, dozens of original illustrations from Julia Donaldson's beloved children's books cover the walls. The Gruffalo takes centre stage, naturally, but you'll spot familiar characters from Room on the Broom, The Snail and the Whale, and Stick Man dotted throughout the collection.

Families with young children will get the most from this one - watching little faces light up as they recognise their bedtime story heroes is properly heartwarming. The artwork itself is more detailed than you'd expect from the book pages, with sketches and colour studies showing how Axel Scheffler brings these characters to life.

Allow about an hour for a leisurely wander, though toddlers might lose interest after thirty minutes unless there's a reading corner or interactive element. The gallery works well as a rainy day backup if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Witton Castle or High Farm Holiday Park.

What's missing is practical information - opening times and admission prices aren't readily available, so worth ringing ahead before making the trip from Bishop Auckland town centre. It's a lovely little spot for Gruffalo fans, but probably not worth a special journey unless you're already in the area with small children in tow.