Aviator Amy Johnson

Amy Johnson was Britain's first female pilot, and this gallery in Whitstable tells her extraordinary story without the usual reverence that tends to suffocate biography. You get the genuine archive material - photographs, letters, flight logs - plus some thoughtful exhibits on what it actually meant to be a woman breaking into aviation during the 1930s.

The space itself is compact rather than sprawling, which works in its favour. You won't spend hours here, but an hour or ninety minutes is about right to read properly and absorb the details. Aviation enthusiasts will get the most from it, obviously, but history buffs interested in women's achievement and the early days of long-distance flying will find plenty to grab them.

It's free entry, which is always welcome. The gallery sits in Whitstable proper, making it easy to combine with a walk around the seafront or a proper fish lunch at one of the local spots. If you're staying at Nethergong Camping just a few miles out - genuinely excellent, that site - or Seaview Holiday Park, both locations put you within easy reach for a morning visit. Neither park is purpose-built for thrills, so this adds a bit of cultural substance to a seaside break without demanding a major commitment of your time.