Ilfracombe Library

Rainy afternoons on the North Devon coast call for indoor retreats, and this compact Victorian library in the heart of Ilfracombe delivers just that. The building itself tells a story - red brick and proper old-fashioned reading rooms that feel wonderfully unchanged from decades past.

Families will find it a godsend when the weather turns. Children's sections are well-stocked with picture books and holiday reads, while parents can catch up on newspapers or browse local history collections. The staff know their community well and often point visitors towards walking guides and tide tables for the area.

It's free to pop in for a browse, though you'll need local registration for borrowing. Allow half an hour unless the kids get properly absorbed in the story corner. The building stays coolly comfortable even on scorching summer days, making it a decent pit stop between beach visits.

For those staying at nearby sites like Hele Valley Holiday Park or Watermouth Valley Camping Park, it's an easy walk from the town centre. The library sits close to Ilfracombe's shops and cafes, so you can easily combine a visit with provisions shopping. Not exactly a destination in itself, but libraries like this remind you why proper civic buildings matter - especially when you're juggling wet swimsuits and grumpy children after an hour too long on Tunnels Beaches.