Munson's Brewery

There's something deeply satisfying about watching a proper working brewery do its thing. Munson's, a few miles outside Bury Saint Edmunds in Suffolk, is the real deal - not a visitor attraction dressed up as a brewery, but an actual functioning operation where beer gets made, day in and day out.

You're looking at a traditional outfit here. The place has genuine character, the kind that comes from decades of doing one thing well rather than polishing things for tourism. Tours show you the brewing process from grain to glass, and staff generally know what they're talking about rather than reading from a script. The tasting room is unpretentious. Expect to spend two to three hours if you do the full tour and linger over a pint or two.

It works best for beer enthusiasts and anyone interested in how things actually get made. Kids can come but might find the technical side slow-going after the first twenty minutes. The gift shop stocks their full range, and prices are fair.

If you're staying at Church View Campsite down the road, this fits neatly into a couple of hours before lunch or as an afternoon stop. Bury Saint Edmunds itself is worth a proper wander - the abbey ruins are genuinely good - so you could string together a decent day without much driving about. Free admission isn't guaranteed, so ring ahead or check their website before you go. Weekday visits are quieter than weekends.