Thames Valley Police Museum

The old police station on Forbury Road in Reading holds a museum that's rather more engaging than you'd expect from what sounds like a dusty archive of truncheons and mugshots. Thames Valley Police Museum is a working look at law enforcement from the Victorian era through to modern times - actual uniforms, weapons, vehicles, and the kind of kit that makes you realise how much the job has changed.

You'll find yourself moving through exhibits that cover everything from historical crime prevention to contemporary policing. There's genuine character in the displays, and the staff clearly care about getting the story right rather than just filling cases with objects. Children often perk up around the crime scene reconstruction bits, though it's not a theme park - don't expect screaming thrills.

Allow a solid hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're thorough. It's free entry, which is genuinely generous for something this well-kept. The museum sits in central Reading, so you can easily pair it with a wander around town before heading out to the holiday parks - Ravenswing Park is only a few miles away and makes for a comfortable base if you're planning a broader South East break.

Worth visiting? Yes, if you're into social history or how institutions actually worked. If police procedurals bore you senseless, you'll be out in forty minutes flat. Either way, it's a solid rainy afternoon option that doesn't cost a penny.