England

Their 'genius guide' to England showcases an assortment of remarkable inventions. It begins with a trip to Blackpool Pleasure Beach to experience Sir Hiram Maxim's 1904 Captive Flying Machines. The oldest amusement ride in Europe, these miniature rocket-shaped aeroplanes were designed by the eccentric inventor who created the first portable machine gun - but whose ultimate goal was to achieve powered flight. A vertiginous spin on this historic ride gives Monkman the perfect opportunity to describe in detail the theory of centrifugal force.