Adventure Land

Adventure Land sits just outside Windsor in Bracknell Forest - a sprawling theme park that's been pulling families through its gates for decades. It's the sort of place where you'll find traditional fairground rides alongside more modern attractions, log flumes next to roller coasters, and enough dodgems and Ferris wheels to keep kids entertained for a solid afternoon.

The park works best for families with children aged 5 to 14. Teenagers might find it a bit dated compared to the big brand parks, and very small kids could get overwhelmed by crowds on busy days. Most visitors spend three to four hours here, which is about right before fatigue sets in.

If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Cranbourne Hall is barely a mile away, and Queens Acre just 2.4 miles - it makes a natural stop-off rather than a destination in itself. The rides are functional rather than thrilling. The queue times can stretch considerably during school holidays and weekends. Food is predictably overpriced theme park fare.

What works in its favour is the sheer variety. Kids can move between water rides and coasters without much walking, and there's enough spread across the site that you're not constantly jostling for space. On quieter autumn weekdays it's actually quite pleasant. The park holds its own for a rainy day activity when you're based nearby, though I wouldn't say it's worth a special journey from far afield. Check ahead for opening hours and admission prices - they vary seasonally.