UK rail speed record

On a stretch of track near Aylesford in Kent, a small plaque marks where Mallard stormed past 126 miles per hour in 1938 - the fastest steam locomotive ever recorded. You won't find much more than the marker itself these days, but standing there is genuinely moving if you care about railway history at all.

The record still stands. Think about that. A locomotive built in the 1930s, belching coal smoke and powered by controlled explosions, outpaced anything on rails before or since in steam form. It's the sort of fact that makes proper trainspotters go quiet.

The location isn't a visitor attraction in the traditional sense - there's no visitor centre, no cafe, no gift shop flogging model trains. It's a working railway line, and you'll need to approach carefully from the road. The nearest proper town is Aylesford, which gives you something to anchor the visit geographically, though don't expect much fanfare locally either.

It's worth the detour if you're already in the area, particularly if you're staying at one of the glamping sites like Kits Coty or Badgells Wood - both are close by and five-star rated, so you could slot this into a Kent break easily enough. Give yourself twenty minutes maximum at the site itself. Children under about twelve will probably find it underwhelming unless they're already rail enthusiasts.

Bring your own transport and check the railway schedule before you go - you don't want to be standing on the trackside when the 14:35 comes through.