Vickers 668 Varsity T.1

Standing beneath this twin-engined Royal Air Force trainer at Brooklands Museum feels like stepping back into the Cold War era. The Vickers 668 Varsity T.1, with its distinctive high wings and twin tail booms, served as the RAF's primary multi-engine pilot trainer from the 1950s through to the 1970s.

What strikes you first is the aircraft's sheer size - this was no lightweight trainer but a proper multi-engine beast that prepared pilots for the likes of the Vulcan bomber. The cockpit, if accessible during your visit, reveals the complexity these trainee pilots had to master.

Aviation enthusiasts will appreciate the engineering details, while kids often just enjoy clambering around something this imposing. It's part of Brooklands' impressive aircraft collection, so you'll want to budget at least half a day to do the museum justice.

Families staying at nearby sites like Chertsey Camping and Caravanning Club or Walton on Thames will find this an easy addition to a Surrey break. The museum sits on the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit, so you're getting motorsport history thrown in too. Weather won't spoil your plans - the aircraft are under cover, making it a solid backup when those spring showers hit.