REME Museum

The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Museum sits just outside Chippenham, a working collection of military vehicles and engineering equipment that actually matters if you're into that sort of thing. Walking round, you're looking at decades of British military kit - from trucks to tanks to the sort of machinery most people walk past without thinking twice about. It's hands-on in places, which beats standing behind velvet ropes squinting at glass cases.

This one's for the military history types and anyone who finds themselves fascinated by how things work. Kids aged eight upwards will get something from it, though a five-year-old might lose interest after twenty minutes of looking at engine blocks. The museum staff know their stuff, which makes the difference between a collection and an actual education.

If you're camping at Park Farm Campsite or The Retreat Glamping nearby - both within a few miles - it makes a decent wet-weather option or a half-day visit between walking routes. Allow two to three hours without rushing. Check ahead on opening hours and admission before you go; these smaller museums can be variable with their schedules.

Worth the drive if military engineering speaks to you. Less essential if you're after countryside walks and picnic spots, though Blackland Lakes is only a short drive away if you want a proper outdoor day to balance it out.