Somerset Space Walk - Venus

The Somerset Space Walk stops at Venus, and it's genuinely one of those quirky attractions that makes you smile when you stumble across it. You're looking at a gallery space dedicated to our nearest planetary neighbour, complete with scale models, information panels, and enough Venus facts to bore your kids senseless or fascinate them completely - there's no middle ground. The whole thing is part of a larger walking trail through Somerset that treats the solar system as your outdoor classroom, which is an inspired bit of local thinking. Venus itself gets the full treatment: toxic atmosphere, surface temperatures that could melt lead, the lot. It's free to look at the main displays, though exact opening times and whether there's a charge for the gallery space itself aren't entirely clear from their end. You'll want to allow 20 minutes to half an hour here, maybe longer if you're the type who reads every panel. This works brilliantly if you're staying at one of the local caravan parks - Secret Valley or Thornhills are both within five miles, making it an easy afternoon outing. It's not the sort of thing you'd travel hours to see on its own, but paired with a walking holiday in the Somerset Levels near Taunton, it's a proper little diversion. Families with older kids who are into space will get the most from it; younger ones might find it a bit static. Worth adding to an itinerary if you're already in the area.