DON'T be surprised if you get a sense of déjà vu when visiting Lacock for the first time... you're not going mad, you really have 'been there' before.
The 13th century village and its medieval nunnery are so atmospheric that they have been used as the backdrop for countless TV dramas and blockbuster films.
Harry Potter fans will recognise the abbey cloisters, for instance, as part of the boy wizard's school, Hogwarts, while avid viewers of the BBC's recent Tudor drama Wolf Hall will picture Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell in the very same spot.
And out in the National Trust village, it's not hard to sweep away the parked cars in your mind's eye and imagine Dame Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton et al whispering behind their bonnets in an episode of TV's Cranford.
We visited with my partner's parents, but the National Trust is keen to promote the village and all its historic gems as a family destination, and has catered for little ones every step of the way, with falconry demonstrations laid on through the summer and trails for kids to follow (including a challenge to find eight toy mice dotted around the furnished rooms, which kept my other half amused for hours... he only found seven!).
We began with a look around the Fox Talbot Museum, named after the abbey resident who is credited with the invention of photography with his mousetrap camera. The exhibition explains how the very first images were captured and the chemical processes behind making the first negative, as well as taking visitors down memory lane with a display of cameras through the decades (remember the Box Brownie?).
From there it was on to Henry Talbot's former home, Lacock Abbey, which started as a nunnery and then became a Tudor family home built on the abbey foundations.
With the cloisters on the ground floor, and a whole suite of furnished rooms above, you can while away hours learning how the inhabitants of the past lived their lavish lives.
Especially interesting is the South Gallery, where you can stand in the spot where ox Talbot took the first photographic negative. You can also wander around the study of this hugely inventive man, getting an insight into his scientific mind and learning how he spent his evenings (sometimes all night) pondering new and amazing ideas.
For those so inclined, the abbey gardens have something to offer all year round, with carpets of snowdrops and crocuses in spring and rose gardens in stunning bloom in June.
Instead, we chose to make the most of the spring sunshine and stopped off at The George, a 14th century inn with a beautiful garden.
Inside is a picture of actress Judi Dench, who presumably stayed, ate or drank there during the filming for Cranford. It didn't take much to imagine her sat the bar in her frilly bonnet and cape, sipping a sweet sherry and gossiping with the other villagers.
Lacock cloisters, grounds and museum is open from 10.30am to 5.30pm daily through the summer months. Entry is £12.90 for adults, £6.50 for £6.50 children and £32.20 for a family. Last admission is 45 minutes before closing.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here