Ruislip Lido Railway

The narrow-gauge railway that loops around Ruislip Lido is pure nostalgia dressed up in a day out. You're on a proper miniature train, the kind that chugs slowly past the water, woodland, and the sort of families you'd see in a 1950s photograph. The whole loop takes about 20 minutes, and it's the kind of thing that registers as absolute magic if you're under eight, and pleasant enough if you're older and don't mind the squeaky wheels.

It's free to wander the lido area itself - there's a decent stretch of water to walk around, a playground that's seen better days, and the reassuring chaos of ducks and geese. The train rides cost a few quid per ticket. Go on a weekday morning if you can stomach the drive from Uxbridge; weekends turn it into a proper scrum of pushchairs and birthday parties.

If you're based at Wyatts Covert or Heritage Park Homes - both within reach - this works as a gentle half-day with the kids rather than a main event. The lido itself is fine for a picnic and a potter, and the wooded paths around it are pleasant without being spectacular. Don't expect any thrills or surprises; expect instead a low-key, slightly worn-in family afternoon that costs almost nothing and asks very little of you. That's actually its charm.