Unexpectedly interesting tourist attractions

[StillCoughingandLaughing]

Just thinking about it because it came up in my ‘On This Day’ on Facebook… a few years ago, I went to Stockholm, and someone I’d met just before told me I absolutely had to see Vasa. (It’s a perfectly preserved 17th Century warship, for those of you who, like me then, haven’t heard of it!) He said it had been a recommendation from a friend and he would never have thought of going otherwise, but found it fascinating.

He was absolutely right. I’d never even heard of it, but was so glad I went. So now I’m wondering, what other ‘hidden’ or underrated gems should I see?

Wave Rock in Australia- blew me away.

Highgate Cemetery -so interesting

The Thackeray medical in Leeds is great. We went recently and you get an annual ticket.

Paris catacombs

I went to a marble museum somewhere in the SW many years ago when on holiday which was fab…Devon/Dartmoor way?

The Canal Museum in Stoke Bruerne on the Grand Union Canal was a good afternoon out for us, you can go on a canal barge trip as well.

BIL went on the Morgan car factory tour in Malvern and that comes highly recommended too.

And the electric mountain in Llanberis. I never thought I’d be interested in how electricity is produced but it was good…and the ride round underground was awesome.

The Salt Mines in Kraków were absolutely fascinating and beautiful. Totally wasn’t expecting it.

@NoProblem123

Honey Farm in West Wales, I think New Quay.

Big glass thinks full of comb with the bees coming & going.

Then to the cafe and honey themed gift shop.
Loved it 😁

It's in Aberaeron. Hive on the Quay, with the honey ice cream parlour outside it. The Aeron express, over the harbour, is gone though which is a shame.

@Teesdale2622 no but thank you for that recommendation ❤️

The Scottish Submarine Centre in Helensburgh was very interesting - much more so than I expected. The founder was on the reception desk (it's a small team operation) and chatted for ages- a mine of information and very enthusiastic.

Not sure why so many of these are considered “hidden” in Scotland. They are pretty well known!

My vote would go to We The Curious in Bristol. We’ve done many (many!!) science museums, and this is by far the best.

Royal Yacht Britannia is definitely worth a visit

Best Victoria sponge in the tearoom too - expensive though. @CyberGhost you should definitely visit. Also, go to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Best audio tour we’ve had. It has good cake too!

And the RN Submarine Museum at Gosport - the tour guides are ex submariners and have lots of anecdotes.

Loved this one. I went with my dad years ago.

The Harris in Preston. Absolutely gorgeous building, incredible cantilever stairs, really interesting exhibits about the history of Preston and wider Lancashire and lots for kids to learn. Plus, you can get parched peas on the flag market outside or butter pies if you wander 100m to the outdoor market.

Another surprising yes for Cliffe Castle in Keighley. It is beautiful. And it does the most delicious ice cream dessert in its cafeteria called a Scrumdiddlyumptious!

Not really hidden but the Heineken museum in Amsterdam was excellent. I’m a teetotal and thoroughly enjoyed it and DP loved the complimentary beer tasting throughout . I quite like distilleries after visiting there!

The Kremlin - I had no idea that there was so much inside it, carriages, faberge eggs, cathedrals - it was an absolutely fascinating place and showed how super rich the Tzars were.

The Hansgrohe bathroom museum in the Black Forest in Germany. Who knew the history of baths and showers was so interesting? Also free and a lovely cafe.

I really enjoyed Mary King's Close underneath the old town in Edinburgh, would happily go again! Very atmospheric.

I agree about the D Day Museum in Portsmouth. The Overlord tapestry is absolutely amazing, an incredible piece of work.

Also the hydro-electric power station at Ben Cruachan near Oban, you go right into the depths of the mountain.

We go to the Isle of Wight most years, we kept saying when we run out of other places to go, and if it rains, we'll go to Waltzing Waters, kept seeing it behind the big Tesco. Finally decided to go and it had closed down.

Not hidden but The Slavery Museum in Liverpool is very informative...

Threlkeld Quarry and Mining museum near Keswick. Spent hours panning for gems in the stream . Also a great steam train ride around the quarry site.

The Hornimann Museum in London - we have seen so many interesting exhibitions here and the gardens are so lovely.
The Cloisters in New York and the lovely unicorn tapestries-( the bus ride is great too- up through Harlem)
The Botanical Gardens in Berlin - walking on a platform over a meadow and other interesting and surprising perspectives
The basement of one of the main churches in Sorrento ( we wandered in and I’ve forgotten the name ). It was full of the most amazing objects. There were cases and cases of embossed silver charms made and given as gifts from sailors seeking protection at sea. It was overwhelming.

The sir John Soane's museum in London, it's his house full of interesting stuff.

Oh I almost forgot - the Great Tapestry of Scotland is AMAZING - opening soon in a new exhibition centre. Truly fantastic visionary piece. Felt the same vibes as when seeing the Bayeux Tapestry - just thinking of all the women who stitched it lovingly.

The Mary Rose exhibition in Portsmouth - it's so well put together.

Victor Hugo's house in Guernsey. His taste was so quirky, it was totally unexpected and fascinating, and the view over the sea was utterly beautiful.

A lot of my favourites have already been mentioned, but I dont think anyone has recommended Lancaster Castle yet. It's a really interesting tour covering hundreds of years worth of history from the Pendle witch trials right up until the relatively modern day prison.
I expected to find it fascinating to be honest but the rest of the family, particularly the grumpy teenage boys, really only went to humour me but came out sayingv it was one of the best places they'd ever been.

I like the Museum of Brands in London. It has lots of old packaging and products from the 20th century to the present day. Great if you like a bit of nostalgia.