Solar System Model: Venus

You'd be forgiven for missing this one on a casual drive through Otford, near Sevenoaks. The Solar System Model is essentially a walk-through scale representation of our planets, with Venus positioned somewhere along a footpath in the village. It's the sort of thing that sounds daft until you actually do it, then you realise how genuinely useful it is for getting your head around just how vast the distances between planets actually are.

The whole setup works brilliantly for families with primary-aged kids, especially those who've got into space. There's something about physically walking the distance between Venus and Earth that no planetarium show can quite match. You're not talking about standing in front of a polished display case here - it's just markers and information boards, which keeps it refreshingly low-key and free of that forced 'attraction' feeling.

Since admission appears to be free and it's built into village walks, you can slot this in alongside a proper ramble without any faffing about with opening times or entry fees. Realistically, allow 20 minutes if you're just hitting the Venus point, though the full model would take considerably longer. It pairs well with staying at Thriftwood Country Park just four miles away - ideal for a break from the standard holiday park entertainment, and honestly, the walk itself is often more memorable than the destination. Bring sensible shoes and check the weather, because this isn't the sort of thing that works brilliantly in driving rain.