Royal Armouries Museum

The Royal Armouries Museum is definitely one to visit. A focus on weaponry may sound a bit dull, but this museum brings history to life in hands-on ways you’d never expect.

There are a few set pieces the Royal Armouries seems to be particularly proud of, including a huge embossed suit of armour for an elephant, a Japanese shogun suit of armour presented as a gift to King James I, and two suits of armour belonging to Henry VIII.

However, the shiny displays of suit after suit of armour are really impressive and give a real sense of how armour, and also fighting, changed over time.

There are interactive talks and displays like fight demonstrations – a talk about swords being particularly memorable. There’s enough historical detail for real history nerds but the talks are accessible for everyone without being dumbed down. Children will never forget the chance to wield a sword that is almost as big as they are.

The Hall of Steel stairwell with its angled mirror is truly spectacular, an eerily beautiful display of sharp edges.

Once weaponry moves on to guns, it’s a bit samey unless you’re really interested in artillery. The more contemporary galleries are also a harder visit with pre-teens; the glamour of swordplay is replaced by humdrum rifles and although the videos bring colour and personality to the stories, colonial slaughter is not an easy topic to round off with a trip to the gift shop.

As well as the main galleries, there are also special exhibitions, a crossbow challenge, and an escape room which all have to be paid for. Other than that, it’s all free.