IWM Duxford

The moment you walk through those doors at Duxford, you're confronted with a Spitfire hanging from the ceiling. It's the sort of thing that stops you dead - proper stunning. This former RAF airfield turned Imperial War Museum is sprawled across several hangars, and you'll need a good half-day minimum to do it justice, longer if aircraft get your blood pumping.

What you actually get is one of Europe's finest aviation collections. Concorde sits alongside vintage biplanes, a Vulcan bomber, and enough restored warbirds to make any flying enthusiast weep. The American Air Museum occupies its own vast hangar - P-47s, Mustangs, B-17s - the lot. Beyond planes, there's tanks, vehicles, and smaller exhibits covering everything from code-breaking to the home front.

Families with kids aged eight and up will get proper mileage from it. Younger children might flag once they've looked at a few cockpits. There's a hands-on interactive space that keeps under-tens engaged for a bit, but really this is a museum that rewards knowing your aviation history. Adults who remember when these machines actually flew will find themselves lost for hours.

Admission charges apply - check the website for current prices. Duxford sits between Royston and Cambridge, making it a smart stop if you're based at Pightle Farm Campsite or Shepreth Mill. Both are close enough for an easy drive. The museum's sprawling layout means comfortable shoes are non-negotiable, and on busy days the car park fills quickly. Go midweek if you can.