E

xamining medieval codpieces may not be everyone’s idea of fun, but then with 8,500 examples of arms, armour and artillery on show at the Royal Armouries Museum there are plenty of other displays to grab your attention.

The Museum, located just a short distance from the city centre at Clarence Dock, houses everything from the royal armours of the Tudor and Stuart kings right up to present day weapons. There are some seriously impressive (and occasionally freaky) designs on display, including a nightmare-inducing 16th century horned helmet.

Hard to believe that people actually wore and used these things - the English Civil War and Oriental collections of arms and armouries are particularly imposing.

And if the kids get bored looking around one of the world’s largest collections of weapons and battle clobber in the world (unlikely, we think) then give their imagination a kick start by taking a front row seat as real-life knights in shining armour joust out in the Tiltyard.

Or for something cuter altogether, meet the horses in the menagerie or take in a falconry show.The whole day, lock, stock, and barrel, is guaranteed family fun.