Basildon Miniature Railway

There's something rather charming about watching a steam locomotive the size of a garden shed thunder past at knee height. The Basildon Miniature Railway is exactly what it says - a proper working railway with real engines, just scaled down to about a tenth of their full size. You get an actual ride on the narrow-gauge track, which winds around the site near Benfleet, and it's the sort of thing that'll genuinely entertain both eight-year-olds and their nostalgic parents for a couple of hours.

This is unashamedly old-school fun. The locomotives are meticulously maintained by volunteers who clearly know their stuff, and there's real engineering craft on display if you care to look. Kids will be absolutely thrilled by the actual journey - it moves at a gentle pace, which is partly the charm. Adults who grew up around model railways will find it proper absorbing. On a sunny afternoon it's the sort of outing that doesn't break the bank and fills a gap in a park-based holiday nicely.

Barleylands Campsite sits just over four miles away, so it's an easy dash if you're staying there. Go on a weekday if you can - weekends draw the serious railway enthusiasts and it gets busier. Allow a couple of hours to see the full site and take a ride. The weather matters here since it's largely outdoors, so check the forecast before you head out from Benfleet.