National Motor Museum, Beaulieu

The car collection at Beaulieu is genuinely impressive - we're talking everything from a 1909 Rolls-Royce to a DeLorean, all housed in what was once a working abbey. The museum sits on the edge of the New Forest near Brockenhurst, and you'll spend at least three hours here if you're remotely interested in automotive history. The vehicles are arranged chronologically, which means you get to see how design evolved rather than just gawping at random motors.

It's more than just cars, though. There's a driving experience simulator that kids find genuinely entertaining, and the grounds themselves are worth a wander - the abbey ruins are atmospheric, and the river walk is properly lovely if the weather's decent. Adults who remember the cars from their childhood will get misty-eyed; teenagers might need bribing unless they're petrol heads.

Admission isn't cheap, but for a full day activity in the New Forest it's solid value. Aim for a weekday if possible - weekends draw coach parties and the place gets rammed. The café is acceptable but pricey, so grab supplies from Brockenhurst before you arrive.

Campsites cluster within five miles - Roundhill and Matley Wood are your closest options. It's the sort of attraction that works well as a wet-weather backup when forest walks aren't appealing, though the grounds deserve fair weather to do them justice.