Heritage Centre

The Heritage Centre sits in Carmarthen and does exactly what it says on the tin - walks you through the town's past without any of the pretension. Inside you'll find the sort of exhibits that actually tell you something: medieval manuscripts, bits of Roman pottery, the kind of local stories that never make it into the big museums. It's a proper community operation, the sort of place where the volunteers know their stuff and aren't afraid to chat about what they've got on display.

History enthusiasts will spend a solid couple of hours here, though families with younger kids might find themselves done in forty minutes. The beauty of it is there's no pressure - it's compact enough to fit around other plans without eating up your whole afternoon. You can actually absorb what you're looking at rather than rushing through acres of gallery space.

If you're based at Parkdean Resorts Carmarthen Bay Holiday Park just down the road, this makes a proper rainy-day stop or a break from the seaside routine. Pair it with a wander round Carmarthen town centre afterwards - the castle ruins are worth ten minutes if the weather's decent. The entrance fee is modest, which helps take the sting out of a dodgy Welsh afternoon. Check ahead for opening times before you visit, but don't let the low-key vibe fool you - it's genuinely worth your time if you care about understanding the place you're visiting.