Banana Van

You'll spot it before you know what you're looking at - a bright yellow van painted to look like an enormous banana, sitting incongruously beside the road near East Grinstead. It's the sort of thing that makes you do a double-take, pull over, and wonder what on earth possessed someone to create it.

The Banana Van is essentially a roadside oddity, a novelty landmark that's become a bit of a talking joke among locals and road-trippers passing through Surrey. There's not much to do here beyond taking a photograph - it's more about the 'I found this weird thing' factor than any deep attraction. Kids find it hilarious, particularly younger ones who appreciate the sheer silliness of a giant fruit parked on the verge. Adults tend to appreciate it as a quirky British eccentricity, the kind of thing that shouldn't exist but somehow does.

It won't take more than five minutes to visit. Pull in, take your photo, have a laugh, move on. Whether it's actually worth the detour depends entirely on your tolerance for roadside novelties. If you're the type who enjoys searching out Britain's stranger landmarks, you'll find it charming. If you're after proper attractions, you're better served exploring the nearby parks - Hook Farm Campsite and Worth Forest Glamping are within a couple of miles and offer actual recreational space.

If you're camping in the area, it's a decent excuse for a short drive and a giggle, but don't expect anything more.