Tangmere Military Aviation Museum

The moment you walk through the gates at Tangmere, you're confronted with the serious business of aviation history. This is a proper working museum dedicated to the RAF station that played a genuine role during the Second World War, and it doesn't shy away from the grim reality of what that meant.

You'll find restored aircraft, flight simulators, and enough warbird memorabilia to keep aviation enthusiasts occupied for a good three hours. The hangars contain everything from Spitfires to Hurricanes - real machines that flew from this very airfield. It's the kind of place where you can walk around at your own pace, reading the panels and soaking up the detail, or chat with knowledgeable volunteers who actually lived through some of this stuff.

This absolutely isn't for young children who need constant entertainment. Teenagers with any interest in military history will find it worthwhile, but it's squarely aimed at adults and serious history buffs. The setting's rather sparse - it's essentially a working airfield on the outskirts of Chichester - so don't expect tea rooms or gift shops to rival the big museum chains.

If you're staying at one of the holiday parks dotted around this area - Chichester Lakeside is closest at just 2.5 miles away - Tangmere makes a solid morning visit on a rainy day. It's free entry, which counts in its favour. Worth the detour? Only if you're genuinely interested in wartime aviation. Otherwise, head into Chichester proper for something broader.