The Maidstone East Iguanodon

Back in 1834, a local doctor called Gideon Mantell dug up some enormous fossilised teeth and bones from a quarry near Maidstone - and basically invented the dinosaur. The Iguanodon became one of the first dinosaurs ever named, and Maidstone's still rather proud of that fact. You'll find the story told in the town's museum, where they've got casts and original material from those early digs that sparked the whole Victorian obsession with prehistoric creatures.

It's not a sprawling exhibition - don't expect a full theme park experience. What you get is a focused look at why this particular chunk of Kent became so important to palaeontology, with enough context to understand why Mantell's discovery mattered. The fossils themselves are genuine head-turners if you're into geology or natural history. Kids who've watched Jurassic Park will find it interesting enough for an hour or so, though it won't keep them entertained all day.

The museum's free to get into, which is good value. You're roughly three miles from Aylesford if you're basing yourself at one of the local holiday parks - Oak View or Kits Coty Glamping are proper close by. It works well as a rainy-day stop or a morning visit before heading out to walk the Medway Valley, rather than a destination in its own right. Worth the detour if you're already in the area and fancy learning how Maidstone accidentally changed what we know about Earth's ancient past.