John C Jacques Railway Museum

The railway heritage tucked away near Nuneaton is genuinely absorbing if you're into trains at all. John C Jacques Railway Museum houses a proper collection of locomotives and rolling stock - the kind of place where you can actually get up close to engines rather than viewing them through glass from fifty paces. It's the sort of attraction that adults who grew up with railways tend to find themselves lingering in far longer than planned, examining details on the footplates and reading through the technical specs.

Kids might manage an hour or so, particularly if there's something interactive on, but it's not one of those museums designed to keep them entertained all day. The real draw is for enthusiasts and anyone with a genuine interest in rail transport history. You'll spot preserved steam and diesel locomotives in various states of restoration, alongside bits of railway infrastructure that bring the engineering side to life.

With Bosworth Lakeside Lodges, The Dandelion Hideaway, and Fire & Stars Woodland Camping all within a few miles, you could easily combine a morning at the museum with accommodation that actually has some character. The location near Nuneaton makes it workable as part of a longer East Midlands trip without eating up half your day on travel.

Before heading over, check ahead about opening times and admission costs - details aren't readily available online. Worth ringing ahead anyway if you're making the journey specially, just to confirm they're open when you plan to visit.