Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway

This narrow-gauge railway has been running between New Romney and Dungeness since 1927, and it's one of those wonderfully odd British attractions that shouldn't work but absolutely does. You board a miniature steam locomotive - proper little thing, about a third the size of a full-scale engine - and spend forty minutes rattling across the Romney Marsh towards the shingle banks of Dungeness.

The journey itself is the point. Kids go mad for it, especially if you bag a seat in an open carriage where the wind whips your face and you can smell the coal smoke properly. Adults tend to fall into two camps: railway enthusiasts who spend the entire trip photographing the engine, and everyone else who just enjoys the gentle absurdity of it all.

The line runs 13.5 miles to Dungeness, passing through tiny stations with names like Greatstone and Lydd. You can stay on for the full return journey or explore Dungeness itself - the shingle landscape is genuinely stark and worth thirty minutes wandering about. The whole outing takes a couple of hours including turnaround time.

It's very much a fine-weather activity. Winter running is limited, and rain drains the charm somewhat. Book tickets in advance during school holidays - it gets rammed. Several holiday parks sit within a few miles: New Beach, Parkdean Resorts Romney Sands, and Herons Park are all close enough for a half-day trip. Not essential to a Kent park holiday, but if you've got young kids and you're already in the area, it's worth the detour.