Dorking Brewery

Dorking Brewery sits right in the heart of Surrey's market town, a proper working brewery where you can actually see beer being made rather than just drinking it in a pub. The place runs tours and tastings - you'll walk through the actual brewing floor, watch the kit in action, and understand what separates a decent pint from a mediocre one. It's hands-on stuff, not some sterile visitor experience.

This works well for adults who take their beer seriously, or anyone after an afternoon activity that doesn't involve queuing at a theme park. Families with older kids might enjoy it too, though little ones will find the smell of hops either fascinating or utterly dull depending on their temperament. The tour teaches you things you'll actually remember - hop varieties, fermentation times, why local water matters.

Check their website for opening hours and whether booking ahead is required, as it often is for brewery visits. Allow a couple of hours if you're doing a full tour with tasting. It's free to wander in for a pint at their taproom, but organised tours usually cost around fifteen to twenty quid.

If you're based at one of the nearby glamping spots like Cowroom or The Green Escape, it's an easy drive into Dorking town centre. Good way to break up a camping weekend - more interesting than another trip to the shops, and the taproom usually has a decent food menu to go with your sample flights.