Vintage camera museum

If you've got any nostalgia for the days when cameras had actual mechanical bits you could understand, this museum near Redhill is worth a detour. The collection spans decades of photographic engineering - from enormous Victorian plate cameras to compact 35mm film bodies - and it's genuinely fascinating how design evolved once you start looking properly.

You'll spend a good hour or two here, longer if you're the sort who reads every label and stops to admire the craftsmanship. Photography enthusiasts will absolutely lose themselves; casual visitors might find it a bit specialist after the first twenty minutes. Kids under ten? Probably not their scene unless they're already into how things work.

The real appeal lies in handling some of the pieces and seeing how photographers tackled the same problems - sharp focus, correct exposure, durability - across a hundred years of different solutions. It's a proper education in mechanical design without feeling like one.

As a pit stop between exploring Alderstead Heath Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite and other Surrey attractions, it slots in nicely on a rainy afternoon. You won't need the full day, but it beats sitting in the caravan waiting for the weather to turn. Admission details and opening hours need checking first - ring ahead before making the journey from Redhill, as museum hours can be patchy.