Vend it baby

Vend it Baby is one of those roadside oddities that stops you in your tracks driving through Shropshire near Whitchurch. It's a vintage vending machine museum, basically - a collection of restored coin-operated machines from decades past, displayed in what feels like someone's personal obsession made public. You walk around examining everything from old chocolate dispensers to fortune tellers, each one a snapshot of how people used to spend their pocket change.

It's the sort of place that appeals most to nostalgic adults and anyone with a weakness for retro kitsch. Kids might find it interesting for twenty minutes, then get restless - there's not much interaction beyond looking and taking photos. History buffs and industrial design enthusiasts tend to get more mileage out of it.

The whole visit takes about an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're thorough. Whether it's worth the detour depends on how much this sort of thing grabs you. If you've got a particular soft spot for mid-century consumer culture, it's genuinely entertaining. If you're just after a quick stop, you might leave feeling it's a bit niche.

If you're staying at Hawk Lake Caravan Park or Lower Lacon - both handy if you're exploring the area - it makes sense as a wet-weather option or a lazy afternoon addition rather than your main event. Check ahead for opening hours and admission prices before you drive over, as details are thin on the ground.