FOWLMERE AIRFIELD MUSEUM

The runway at Fowlmere tells the story of the Second World War in a way that textbooks simply can't. This former RAF airfield, just outside Royston, is now a museum where you can walk among actual aircraft and see the hangars that once housed fighter squadrons. The collection includes restored warbirds and plenty of original structures - the kind of place where you can almost hear the Merlin engines.

History enthusiasts will find it absorbing. There's genuine substance here - not just a handful of planes in a shed, but a proper attempt to recreate what life was like for the crews stationed here. The outdoor setting means you get a real sense of scale and geography, which you simply don't get in indoor museums.

Families with children aged eight upwards tend to get the most from it. Younger kids might manage an hour, but teenage plane spotters could easily spend three. Allow a couple of hours minimum if you want to do it justice - longer if you're keen on the technical side.

It's a natural pairing with a holiday at Shepreth Mill or Pightle Farm, both within a couple of miles, giving you a morning activity sorted. The admission is modest and the setting peaceful - no crowds, just you and some genuinely significant machines. Worth the detour if you're in the area with any interest in aviation or wartime history.