David Mellor Design Museum
The Round Building Hathersage Derbyshire S32 1BA
David Mellor is one of the best-known 20th-century British designers, and this fascinating museum shows the full historic collection of his work from fabulous handmade silver to the street furniture we encounter every day. The story of contemporary cutlery is told here, and you'll find you recognise much of it, whether or not you're aware of the Mellor influence internationally. He's well known for his tableware, but did you know he designed traffic lights, rubbish bins and post boxes? Street lighting stands shoulder-to-shoulder with candelabra he designed and made for an extraordinary client list – he won many important government commissions in the 1960s, including redesigning the national traffic light system, which is still in use today. You can visit the purpose-built factory too, and you'll certainly find yourself lusting after the simple, stylish knives, forks and spoons, and fortunately there's a classy shop next door where you can buy the modern-day (if still pretty pricey) equivalent. Save up – as a pleasure to be enjoyed on a daily basis, it's worth it, whether you're tucking into beans on toast or beef Wellington.
