HORTON'S STEAM FAIR

Steam engines, vintage rides, and the smell of candyfloss - Horton's Steam Fair near Arundel is proper old-school seaside entertainment. This is a traditional fairground that runs on actual steam power, with a collection of restored vintage attractions that harken back to when fairs meant something tangible: mechanical organs, galloping horses, dodgems powered by electricity (and stubbornness).

You'll wander between wrought-iron structures and wooden ride frames, watching steam rise from the engines that drive the whole show. It's hands-on stuff - kids can go on the rides, adults get to marvel at the engineering, and everyone leaves with that slightly greasy but thoroughly satisfied feeling that comes from proper fair food.

This works brilliantly for families with children aged five to fifteen, and for anyone with a soft spot for nostalgia. History enthusiasts will appreciate the restoration work - these machines are real pieces of industrial heritage being kept alive. Allow a couple of hours minimum, longer if you've got restless children who'll want a second go on everything.

It's close enough to Arundel itself - worth combining with a wander through the castle grounds or a walk along the River Arun. If you're staying at South Downs Caravan Park just down the road, you're barely twenty minutes away. Camp at Old Farm Slindon and it's even closer. The Sussex coast isn't far either, so you could easily bracket this with a day trip to Bognor if you're staying at one of the larger parks nearby.