HMS Thunderer

The HMS Thunderer sits on the foreshore at Lee-on-the-Solent, a decommissioned submarine that's part of the area's naval heritage. She's a proper piece of Cold War history - a British attack submarine that served from the 1960s onwards, and you can actually clamber inside to get a sense of what life was like for the crew in those cramped quarters. It's genuinely claustrophobic in there, which makes the whole experience stick with you.

History buffs and anyone with a passing interest in military engineering will find it worthwhile. Kids tend to enjoy the novelty of exploring a real submarine, though they need to be reasonably mobile - the ladders and passageways aren't for the very young or anyone with mobility concerns. You can spend anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours depending on how thorough you want to be.

Lee-on-the-Solent itself is a small seaside town with a decent promenade and the usual chip shops and cafes. If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Kingfisher Caravan Park is barely a mile away - it makes for a straightforward half-day outing. The whole visit feels fairly low-key and unpretentious, which appeals more to people after some substance rather than Instagram moments. Combine it with a walk along the Solent shoreline or a visit to the nearby sailing facilities if you want to build out your day. Best to check locally for opening times and entry fees before you arrive, as information seems thin on the ground online.