Kibworth Windmill Farm Park

The working windmill at Kibworth Farm sits on a rise just outside Leicester, its sails still turning when the wind's up. It's genuinely one of those places where you can watch grain being milled the way it has been for centuries - no theatrical recreation, just the real thing happening in front of you.

You get to walk around the working farm, see the mill in action, and understand how the whole operation fitted together. The staff know what they're talking about, which makes a difference. Kids find it engaging without being patronising - there's proper machinery doing actual work, not dumbed-down exhibits.

Allow a couple of hours if you're taking it seriously. The farm's compact enough that you won't be trudging about endlessly, but there's enough to see if you're interested in agricultural heritage. Families with younger children do well here; it's tactile and visible rather than read-about-in-cases.

It works brilliantly if you're staying at Valley View Escapes or Hidden Hideaway Glamping - both close enough for a morning visit without turning it into a full day out. Fox's Furrow is just beyond, so you could easily string together a couple of farm-based attractions if you're that way inclined.

Contrary to what you might expect, you won't need to phone ahead or check opening times obsessively - just turn up when the weather's reasonable and you'll find someone about. Worth the short drive from Leicester if you're curious about how things actually worked.