Bentley Miniature Railway

The narrow-gauge track winds through woodland near Hailsham, and within minutes you'll spot the miniature locomotives chugging along like something from a child's fever dream. Bentley Miniature Railway is exactly what it says - a working railway built to about a quarter of full scale, where passengers actually ride in carriages pulled by proper steam and diesel engines. It's the sort of place that makes adults nostalgic and keeps kids genuinely entertained rather than glued to screens.

You'll spend a good hour here minimum, longer if you potter about the station and watch the volunteers fuss over their machines. The trains run on a circuit through open countryside, and the whole operation has that enthusiast charm - slightly ramshackle, deeply committed, absolutely sincere. It's not theme-park slick, which is precisely why it works.

Families with children under ten will get the most value. Older kids might find the ride itself a bit short-lived, though railway obsessives of any age will appreciate the engineering detail. Adults dragged along by grandchildren often end up genuinely interested - there's something magnetic about watching steam billowing from an engine you could almost fit in your shed.

The site sits well within reach of several nearby campsites including Dernwood Farm Glamping and The Secret Campsite, both within five miles. Golden Cross Holiday Park is even closer at under four miles, making this an easy afternoon slot during a camping holiday in East Sussex. Check ahead for seasonal opening patterns and school holidays, when queues can build.