Railway 200

There's something rather special about standing in front of a 200-year-old railway engine, especially when it's been restored to proper working order. Railway 200, just outside Ely, is exactly that - a celebration of East Anglia's industrial heritage centred around locomotives and rolling stock from the Victorian era onwards. You'll see the machines that hauled freight and passengers across the fens, along with period buildings and railway infrastructure that transport you back to when steam power ruled the rails.

It's the sort of place that absolutely captivates railway enthusiasts and engineers - they'll spend hours examining boiler work and valve gear. Children usually enjoy clambering about the exhibits and learning how these iron giants actually worked, though attention spans can flag after an hour or so if there's no special event on. Adults with even a passing interest in industrial history will find it genuinely worthwhile.

Ally this with a caravan or camping holiday at Hatters Meadows or Heatherbield Lodge - both within three miles and rated brilliantly by visitors - and you've got a solid base for exploring the area. Ely itself is close by with its cathedral and Georgian architecture, so you can mix heritage sites across a few days without driving far. The fens around here are flat and easy to navigate, making it good for families who don't fancy steep hills. Weather-dependent, obviously - bring waterproofs. Worth checking ahead for opening hours and whether they run any special steam days, as those genuinely justify the trip.