The Regency Town House

A proper slice of Regency-era domestic life sits right in Brighton's heart - the kind of place that makes you realise how differently people actually lived 200 years ago, not just what you read in Jane Austen novels. The house itself is the thing: a restored townhouse from the early 1800s, furnished and decorated exactly as it would have been when some merchant or professional lived there with their family. You walk through the rooms - sitting room, bedrooms, kitchen - and suddenly the period stops being abstract. The servants' quarters show you the real hierarchy of the household. The kitchen is properly cramped. The wallpapers and fabrics feel genuinely worn in the right way.

It's brilliant for anyone with even a passing interest in social history or domestic life - far more engaging than a standard museum of objects behind glass. Families with older kids (say ten upwards) tend to get more from it than young ones who might find room-after-room of furniture a bit dull, though the servants' areas usually spark something. Plan for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how much you read.

Being just in Brighton means it works perfectly alongside the seafront attractions if you're camping at Pegs and Pitches, Brighton Caravan and Motorhome Club, or Chalky Downs. It's a rainy-afternoon option that doesn't feel like settling for second best. Admission is usually modest and it stays open most days - worth checking ahead for exact hours. Not the kind of place you'd travel hours out of your way for, but absolutely worth an hour if you're already in town.