HMS Cavalier

The moment you climb aboard HMS Cavalier, you're standing on a genuine Cold War submarine - a proper piece of naval history that's been beached near Aylesford since 1972. This isn't some polished museum replica; it's the real thing, all cramped corridors and torpedo tubes, with the salt still clinging to the metal.

You'll spend a good hour picking your way through the engine rooms and control centre, ducking under pipes and appreciating just how tight things were for the crew of eighty-odd men. The claustrophobia is part of the appeal, honestly. Kids tend to find it gripping, though very young ones might struggle with the narrow hatches and steep ladders - it's not a walk around a visitor centre.

Historically minded adults will get the most from it. The boat served from 1948 through to the 1960s, and the interactive displays fill in the gaps if you're not the type to just wander and imagine. It's free to visit, which makes it a solid no-brainer afternoon stop if you're based in the area.

If you're parked up at Kits Coty Glamping just five miles away, Cavalier slots easily into a day's itinerary - combine it with the nearby Medway towns or a walk along the river. Don't expect a blockbuster experience, but for a rainy afternoon or if you've got someone in the family obsessed with submarines, it scratches an itch you didn't know you had.