Gunpowder Mills

A 170-acre heritage site on the edge of Waltham Abbey, where gunpowder and later rocket propellants were made and tested for around three centuries. Families come for the outdoor mix of history, science and wildlife: a miniature railway, tractor-trailer tours into the restricted areas, and woodland walks through the old works. Indoors, the exhibitions cover the site's wartime story, including the women who worked there during the First and Second World Wars, and a rocket vault showing motors from the cold war era. Children's activity days and seasonal events, such as fireworks and a living history festival, are held through the year. The site is run by a charity and is open on weekends for most of the spring and summer, so check the calendar before setting out. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.