Jeremy's Flying Academy

There's an airfield tucked away near Atherstone where you can actually have a go at flying a real aircraft yourself. Jeremy's Flying Academy lets you take the controls of a light plane - proper exhilarating stuff if you've ever wondered what it feels like to actually pilot something. The experience involves a proper briefing, then you're up in a small aircraft with an instructor while you handle the basics of takeoff, flight and landing. It's not a simulator; you're genuinely flying. The views across Warwickshire from up there are excellent, especially on clear days when you can see right across the county. If you've got the budget and the nerve, it's absolutely worth doing once in your life. Allow a solid three to four hours from arrival to landing. Families with teenagers who fancy something beyond the usual park activities will get a real kick out of it - younger children would find much of it tedious. The price point is fairly steep, but then again, you're flying an actual aircraft, so what did you expect? It pairs well with a camping break at Nightingales Rustic Camping, just six miles away, where you can decompress afterwards and regale the kids with your flying tales. The whole experience feels a bit special, to be honest - the sort of thing you'll talk about for years. Check their website or ring ahead to book and confirm current pricing and availability, as these operations aren't always predictable with scheduling.