Stanwell Library

Most people driving through Staines wouldn't give Stanwell Library a second look, but it's actually a proper little community hub worth popping into if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks. It's a working library, not a tourist attraction in the traditional sense, so expectations need recalibrating straight away. You'll find the usual mix of books, computers, and quiet reading spaces - the kind of place locals genuinely use rather than somewhere that exists for visitors.

Why bother then? If you're camped at Penton Park or Chertsey Camping Club and the weather's turned miserable, it's a solid option for a dry hour with the kids. Older children who need to kill time will find books and internet access. Adults after a bit of peace and quiet get exactly that.

The thing is, Stanwell's more functional than fascinating. It's not going to compete with the Surrey countryside you can access from the nearby parks, but as a backup plan on a wet afternoon, it does the job. Go in, borrow something, sit down. No fuss, no entrance fees. If you're based in the Chertsey or Weybridge area and need a proper cultural outing, you'd be better served heading into town itself, but for a free rainy-day refuge during a park holiday, you could do worse. Just don't plan your trip around it.