Here are three more unusual days out to enjoy here in the UK this summer. Each one is packed with charm, adequate on site parking and a considerable “WTF?” factor.
Predictably, they offer bounteous “fun for all the family, come rain or shine”. You simply can't argue with logic like that.
You get to see the world’s first ever pencil. Pretty groovy, huh? I’ve been. Twice. It is that good.
The first time I went, they claimed to have the world’s longest pencil. They now claim to have the world’s longest ever coloured pencil (7.91m long). Hmmm, a subtle yet telling change...
This is another “perfect all-weather attraction” that attracts an impressive 80,000 visitors a year. Visitors get to discover the history of the pencil and look at various pencils of note. The rather impressive gift shop sells, you guessed it, lots of pencils. And yes, it does have a coffee shop.
Camels! In Suffolk! Try not to get too excited here, but it gets better...
...they also have llamas, alpacas AND guanacos. This is too much.
If you like camelids, crazy golf and reasonably priced refreshments, then you will love this place.
Their promotional leaflet is very keen to stress how friendly the camels are - not once mentioning the anti-social spitting habit or distinctive odour.
The gift shop sells alpaca knitwear and they hold regular “cuddle-a-pet sessions”. If that’s not enough to set you sprinting towards East Anglia, you can also arrange (for a small additional fee) to take a llama for a walk.
Did you know that there is a museum dedicated to ‘Bakelite and vintage plastics’? Well, now you do.
The promotional leaflet contains a staggering visitor testimonial:
“I felt I had lost my memory until today” M & G Cooke, Swindon
Cool! This museum cures memory loss! Forget about Lourdes, Williton in Somerset is the new miracle must-go destination.
The museum holds Britain’s largest collection of vintage plastics, which includes some weird and wonderful objects. Bakelite coffin anyone?
This attraction gets extra kudos for including the tearoom in the attraction name, no mucking about here.
Jen Evans is a journalist specialising in culture. She hopes to one day walk a llama. You can read more of her writing on her blog, Bookish Brunette.
Images via Waldopepper, Thejollynomad and Uglix's Flickrs