Mizen's Railway

A narrow-gauge railway line that chugs through Surrey countryside - this is the sort of place where grown-ups become kids again, climbing aboard vintage carriages for a proper nostalgic afternoon. Mizen's Railway is run by volunteers who take their job seriously, and it shows. The trains rattle through woodland and open fields on a route that takes about twenty minutes, giving you genuine views of the Guildford area rather than just a loop around a car park.

It's fundamentally a weekend attraction for families with younger children or anyone soft for a bit of railway nostalgia. The Sunday afternoon sessions run 14:00 to 17:00 in summer, which is decent timing - lunch first, then head over. They also lay on special events throughout the year that are worth checking the website for. Admission costs aren't clearly posted online, which is maddening, but ring ahead and they'll tell you straight.

If you're basing yourself at Warren Farm Home Park - just five miles away and a solid spot with good reviews - Mizen's makes a solid afternoon out without requiring a full day's commitment. It's not the sort of place to linger for hours, but neither is it a quick tick-box experience. Allow a couple of hours including queue time and a wander around the small station building. Go on a dry day; the carriages offer shelter but not much, and muddy platforms aren't fun.