Wareham Town Museum

Cramped into a converted Victorian house on East Street, this proper local museum punches well above its weight. The collection spans everything from Saxon coins to World War II memorabilia, with a particularly strong showing on Wareham's role as a medieval port town. Don't expect flashy displays - this is old-school museum-keeping at its finest, with handwritten labels and cabinets stuffed to the brim.

History buffs will love the Anglo-Saxon finds and the detailed model of the town's ancient walls. The Lawrence of Arabia connection gets a good airing too, given his ties to nearby Clouds Hill. Kids might struggle with the dense information and lack of interactive elements, though the Roman pottery usually holds their attention for a bit.

Admission is free, which makes it a cracking rainy-day option when you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Wareham Forest Tourist Park or Haven Rockley Park. The volunteers who run it are proper enthusiasts - ask them about the Saxon defences and you'll get a mini-lecture that's worth the visit alone. Allow an hour unless you're a real heritage fanatic. It's a short walk from Wareham's centre, making it easy to combine with exploring the town walls or grabbing lunch by the River Frome.