Hatfield Bunker

You're standing in what looks like an ordinary Hertfordshire countryside spot until you descend into a 1950s nuclear bunker frozen in time. Hatfield Bunker is a Cold War command centre, preserved exactly as it would have been during those tense decades when Britain kept one eye on the Soviet threat. The tunnels, the communications equipment, the maps on the walls - it all feels genuinely eerie, especially when you realise families were actually meant to survive down here for weeks.

It's the sort of place history buffs absolutely lap up. Kids tend to find it either fascinating or deeply unsettling, depending on their age and temperament. The claustrophobic corridors aren't for everyone, but if you've got teenagers interested in Cold War politics or military history, they'll be engrossed for a good couple of hours.

The bunker sits just east of St Albans, making it an easy add-on if you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Commons Wood Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite is less than three miles away. It's the kind of attraction that works best as a half-day excursion rather than your main event. Check the website before you head out, as opening hours can be variable and admission fees apply.

Worth your time if you're genuinely interested in Cold War Britain. Less worthwhile if you're after sunny walks and picnics.