Thame Museum

The Thame Museum sits right in the heart of this Oxfordshire market town, tucked away where locals actually know about it but many visitors walk straight past. Inside, it's the kind of place that rewards a proper rummage through glass cases and old photographs - the sort of museum that tells you what life was really like here over the centuries, rather than just listing dates.

You'll find the expected market town treasures: medieval finds, Victorian photographs showing Thame as it was, domestic objects that spark random conversations about how people lived. It's genuinely interesting if you care about local history, but I won't pretend it'll keep under-tens entertained for hours. Older history buffs and anyone interested in how English market towns evolved will find it worthwhile.

The real value is as part of a longer afternoon in Thame itself - pop into the museum, grab lunch at one of the decent pubs, have a walk around the town centre. If you're camped at Lashlake Barn just down the road, it's practically on your doorstep and costs next to nothing to visit. For those staying at Orchard View Farm or Common Leys Farm a few miles out, it's a quick drive into town if the weather turns or you need a quieter afternoon.

Check locally for current opening hours and admission charges before you go - these things do change. Worth an hour of your time if you're staying in the area, but don't build a day around it.