Solar System Model: Mars

A life-sized model of Mars sits in the middle of Otford, Kent - the kind of thing you stumble upon while wandering through the village and think, did I read that sign right? You did. This is part of the village's Solar System Model, a properly ambitious outdoor gallery that maps the planets to scale across the landscape. Mars is the feature attraction here, rendered with enough detail to make you realise how red and crater-pocked the actual planet is.

It's the sort of thing that works brilliantly if you're already in Otford - maybe visiting Sevenoaks nearby or making a longer afternoon of it around the village itself. Kids will be genuinely interested for 20 minutes or so, then restless. Adults interested in astronomy or public art installations will find it thoughtfully done. The fact it's free and accessible at any time makes it easy enough to slot into a wider walk through the area.

For a proper day out, combine this with Thriftwood Country Park just 4.5 miles away - proper green space with scope for a longer ramble. Otford itself is pleasant enough for a wander, though Mars is more curiosity than destination. Go if you're passing through the region; don't plan a trip around it. The genius is in the casual discovery.