Capel Military Show

Every year, Capel near Dorking transforms into a sprawling tribute to military hardware and history. The show brings together vintage tanks, aircraft, vehicles and enthusiasts in what amounts to a proper celebration of wartime engineering - the kind of event where you'll see restored Spitfires sitting alongside lumbering Sherman tanks and crowds of people who can tell you the exact specification of a 1943 Bedford truck.

It's unmissable for military history buffs and anyone with a passion for mechanical restoration. Kids tend to get a real kick out of it too, especially if they're into vehicles - standing next to an actual tank does something to a child's sense of scale that no museum display quite manages. Less enthusing if you're after a peaceful afternoon, mind you. These events draw serious crowds and can get properly heaving by midday.

The show runs on specific dates (check the website for exact timings and whether you need to book ahead or pay on the gate). Plan for a full day if you want to see everything without rushing. Dorking is a decent market town for supplies, and you're well-positioned if you're camping at one of the nearby sites - Henfold Lakes or Cowroom Glamping are both within striking distance, so you could base yourself there and make the show a centrepiece of a longer Surrey break.

Worth the visit if you've got even passing interest in military vehicles. Less compelling if you're dragging reluctant partners along.