Kelmscott Manor

William Morris's old farmhouse sits just outside Faringdon, and it's the sort of place that makes you understand why the Arts and Crafts movement mattered so much. The manor itself is modest - nothing like the grand piles you'd expect - which is rather the point. Morris bought it in 1871 and spent his summers here, designing wallpapers and wrestling with the question of how to make beautiful things in an industrial world.

You can wander the rooms where he worked and lived, see his furniture, the textiles, the printing equipment. The garden is properly worth time too - straightforward but considered, nothing showy. It's the kind of place that appeals to design enthusiasts and anyone curious about the late Victorian creative world. History buffs will appreciate the connection to pre-Raphaelite circles; kids find it a bit dry unless they're already into the period.

The manor is in the hands of the National Trust, so expect small admission fees and limited opening hours - worth checking ahead from Faringdon. Allow a good two hours if you're reading the interpretation boards. It's not a long drive from any of the local caravan parks, though none of them are particularly close. The Cotswolds countryside around here is lovely for walking afterwards, and Faringdon itself is a proper market town with decent pubs.

Go if you're a Morris enthusiast or serious about design history. If you're after a quick family outing with immediate entertainment, you'll probably find it rather quiet.