This place is fantastic for people of all ages and it's free which is even better. Did you know…read morethat the nursery rhymes humpty dumpty and twinkle twinkle little star are both from Colchester? Well you can find out why and much more at this museum - well worth a visit

A free museum and somewhere worth visiting. Not only are there lots of interesting artifacts but…read morethere are things the children and adults can play around with whilst learning about the local history.

Great historical displays inside the picturesque castle as well as in the extensive park grounds…read more One of the best collections of British Roman glass from 100 ad. Room after room of interesting artifacts from several eras, but do not miss the upstairs Roman artifacts room

Tons of touchable things, and interesting history presented in many different ways. Not the…read morebiggest Castle around and parking was quite a distance for us but there is also a playground adjacent to the castle.

We decided to visit Kentwell Hall one sunny day during the school holidays. It was a spontaneous…read moredecision and we didn't really know what to expect before we go there. We're glad we went. The house is in the middle of some really beautiful and well maintained grounds. Pleasant gardens with peacocks roaming around etc. The house itself is fascinating. Even my two girls (8 and 5) enjoyed exploring it. They have a cafe on site. I would recommend checking what days are good to visit and the believe that they sometimes have other activities going on which should keep you entertained for longer.

the gardens were nice but there really wasn't much to do, it seemed a bit past its day and worn…read moredown. also the price of £30 was way to much for what it's worth. I think £5 would have been much more reasonable for a place like this.

Friendly, historic, modern, and full of surprises. (AIE)…read more £5 admission In one of the more historic buildings in the Bury town center. The admissions desk was sweet and friendly. Answered a number of questions with a smile and returned curiosity. Though this place is more geared to adults, there are some interactive screens and stations for younger visitors. Enjoyed the building as much as the exhibits. Will visit again later in the year. (American in England)

This is great place to pop into with kids or just adults on their own. It's free if you're a…read moreresident of St Edmundsbury, but I don't think it's expensive if you're not. The museum is right in the centre of the town near Marks & Spencer and has a variety of really interesting well laid out exhibits including a display about the famous red barn murders, a man trap, mummified cats and a great activity area upstairs for kids including dressing up clothes. Highly recommeded :)

This is an amazing 2 story museum with all kinds of artifacts from old wedgewood to Egypt's tomb…read moreand artifacts Teapots and tea cups old coins to everything in between. 2 nd floor loads of paintings to look at. Entry is free which is always a plus.

The Fitzwilliam Museum offers a well rounded and varied collection. It is sure to please most…read moremuseum visitors regardless of interests. If you're a fan of the work of Georges-Pierre Seurat, you're sure to enjoy the 1884 Neo-Impressionism painting, "The Couple" (original title: Un dimanche après-midi sur l'île de la Grande Jatte). Does it somehow look familiar? This was a study for A Sunday on the Island of la Grande Jatte! "This work is one of many that Georges-Pierre Seurat made in preparation for a much larger painting. The woman's stiff posture is accentuated by her tightly buttoned jacket and the exaggerated bustle of her skirt, which echoes the curve of her parasol. Given that the area of Paris depicted here was known for prostitution, it has been suggested that the woman is a sex worker on the arm of a male client." Give yourself several hours if you plan to take in the entire collection. If you are fortunate enough to live nearby and can visit often, take your time and you're sure to fall in love with one of the many wonderfully curated items found within the museum walls.

This is fascinating Museum housed in original WOrld War II buildings on Parham Airfield, where…read moreAmerican Airmen were based during the war. There are a huge number of artefacts, and every time I go I manage to see and learn new things. The Museum is run by keen volunteers who are happy to guide you round or answer any questions. There is a nice little tearoom which also sells souvenirs and often has wartime music or films playing in it. There are sometimes sandwiches for sale, but no other meals, just snacks like crisps, sweets, biscuits. The souvernirs are VERY CHEAP- lots for under £1. There is also an underground bunker which is open during high season which has been built as an exact replica of one found recently a few miles away at Stratford St Andrew- you can walk through this and see how Britain's Secret Army lived and trained, with original memorabilia such as food and bomb making equipment housed in the bunker. This is very popular with the children, but the main WWII museum part is probably more suitable to adults due to the nature of the exhibits- lots of written displays etc. There are outside picnic tables which are lovely in summer but can get very windy due to the barren and flat surroundings. BEST OF ALL, ENTRANCE TO THE MUSEUM IS FREE- but the Museum does rely on donations to be able to survive. Do play the Museum a visit if you are going near to Framlingham- it is open Sundays March- September and Wednesdays in July and August and really does offer a lovely, informative and evocative morning or afternoon out.

An interesting hour spent studying all sorts of scientific instruments from Babbage's difference…read moreengine, hand held calculators and a cool section of hands on experiments and instruments for kids.

Red alert, a 4 year old is bored and needs some entertainment. A quick Google on 'Things to do in…read moreEssex' and we discovered the East Anglian Railway Museum at Wakes Colne just outside Colchester, for the Bank Holiday weekend they are hosting a Thomas and Friends extravaganza. Problem solved and an hour later from Southend we were pulling into the car park outside the Chappel Station. The website suggested as parking was limited, to go to Marks Tey Station park there and take the train one stop away. We had planned to do this as the train would travel across the magnificent viaduct that greets you as you arrive by car to the museum. However, the Sat Nav decided to mispinterpret the inputted postcode and took us past the exit to Marks Tey off the A12 and instead the next entrance took us straight to the venue where it turned out there was plenty of parking afterall. A tad expensive to enter the museum 2 adults and a 4 year old £31; but this did guarantee unlimited rides on the trains. Chappel Station itself is a step back in time to the glorious age of steam. Although still functioning as a station for the National Express train line, it still manages to maintain it's natural historic leafy English charm. Stepping onto the platform we could see straight away a handful of trains from the Rev Awdry Thomas the Tank Engine stories including of course Thomas himself, as well as Daisy, Toby and Percy. Each one was positioned with passenger coaches or trucks to take the delighted crowds on short trips up and down the line. All the staff whom I assumed were volunteers were cheerful and engaged with the visitors from the moment we stepped on the site, with friendly waves and chatter to keep all feeling part of the experience. Considering the remoteness of this rail museum, it was pleasing to hear many accents around us including US and Australian tourists all confirming the international appeal for Thomas. My 4 year old could have stayed all day and more and was thrilled with the experience, and was still chattering about it on his way to bed, which has more than made up for the cost of entry. It can be assumed these weekends provide a valuable boost to the funds of the museum for the rest of the year. If you are in these ere parts with a little'un to cheer up or an old'un wanting to reminisce then this would be a worthy venture. the museum is pretty much open all year round but the Thomas event is for certain dates only, and there is plenty to see if you like your trains, and I am sure if you wanted to get more involved could volunteer your services too. http://www.earm.co.uk/

This is definately one to keep the kids entertained and you can be sure that they will remember it…read moreand be talking about it for some time to come! We went along to one of the 'Thomas the Tank Engine' days and as you can imagine, that is a very popular day for many people to bring their children along. We didnt have any troubles parking, but that may be because we get their early to try and avoid too much of a rush anyway. It can be a little bit on the expensive side when you look at the entry fees, but it isn't something that you do everyday anyway. Most definately well worth it to keep the children entertained and see the smile on their faces :-)

Really interesting museum, nice cafe, real cockpit from a Jaguar fighter to get into. great day out.read more

Lavenham is a picturesque little village in Suffolk that used to be the hub of the wool trade in…read morethe region, and this beautiful timber framed building used to be the heart of the community, acting as a meeting place and hosting charities. The visit won't take long as it's basically a few rooms where you can enjoy the architecture and the history of the guildhall. Downstairs in the main hall you will notice the huge amount of carved beams, reflecting the wealth of the merchant families; upstairs you will learn about the history of the building after the decline of the wool trade (it turned into a prision and a workhouse at some point) and watch a 10 minute movie about the village, made in the 40s as government propaganda waxing lirycal about country life during the war. At the back there is a small but pleasant walled garden where you can find dye plants used in the trade, including the ones producing the traditional pigment used for the famous local blue cloth. I believe they sell plants, too. There is a tearoom offering typical National Trust fare (it's often the same in most of the locations). I wouldn't bother as the village has a wealth of tearooms with more variety; scones here are good, though. :) If you are in the area do pay a visit, it is more interesting than it looks like.

Lovely little museum with detailed info about the history of the wool trade. Doesn't take long to…read moreget around, maybe an hour/hour and half if you read and take in everything. Adore the buidling and Tudor beams inside. A sweet little medieval town with alot of original buildings/features/houses.