Brook Rural Museum

Brook Rural Museum sits in the village of Brook beside the North Downs and collects the farming and country life of East Kent. The main exhibits are housed in a large medieval barn and a historic oast house, with a converted stable block alongside. Inside, families can look over wagons, carts, ploughs, seed drills and reapers, and many of the smaller hand tools are displayed where they can be handled. The oast house holds hop-growing equipment, and there is a Victory Garden and hop garden outside. Themed exhibitions and a wartime display add a story to the collection. Entry is modest and children are charged a reduced rate, so it suits an unhurried afternoon for older children and curious adults. The museum is run by volunteers and opens only on some days in the summer season, so check before travelling. Parking is free on site, and the village church next door is worth a look too.