RAF Holmpton - Visit the Bunker

The Cold War suddenly feels a lot less theoretical when you're standing inside a nuclear bunker built to survive armageddon. RAF Holmpton, just outside Withernsea on the Yorkshire coast, is a working radar station from the 1960s that's been opened up to visitors - and it's genuinely absorbing stuff.

You descend into this underground command centre and come face-to-face with the actual technology that kept Britain's defences running during decades of nuclear tension. The control rooms, communications equipment, and living quarters are all preserved pretty much as they were left. There's something both eerie and fascinating about walking through spaces where operators once tracked Soviet aircraft, knowing this was genuinely serious business.

It's absolutely the sort of place that grabs history buffs and Cold War enthusiasts properly. Kids tend to find the bunker atmosphere compelling too - the claustrophobia and the sheer oddness of it all holds their attention. Plan for a couple of hours if you want to read the displays properly and soak up the atmosphere. If you're just wanting a quick look around, 45 minutes will do.

Withernsea itself is a straightforward seaside town, and if you're staying at Parkdean Resorts Withernsea Sands Holiday Park just up the road, this pairs nicely with beach time and the local lighthouse. Little Otchan Glamping offers a more upmarket base if you prefer that route. The bunker's the kind of visit that makes a holiday feel like proper exploring rather than just lounging about.