Aqua Splash Inflatable Assault Course - Chigwell

There's something about an inflatable assault course that makes even sensible adults revert to eight-year-old behaviour. Aqua Splash, just outside Chigwell in Essex, is exactly that kind of place - a sprawl of giant inflatables designed for jumping, sliding, and generally getting soaked.

You're looking at an hour or two of proper physical entertainment here. The course involves scrambling over various obstacles, bouncing through padded sections, and negotiating water features. It's the sort of thing that exhausts kids brilliantly but also keeps adults reasonably engaged - the wobblier bits have a genuine laugh-factor. Families with children aged six upwards will get the most out of it. Teenagers might find it a touch juvenile, though the competitive element keeps some entertained.

The whole setup is water-based, so bring a change of clothes and expect to leave soggy. Fair warning: on hot summer days, this place gets rammed. Weekday mornings in term time are your best bet for a slightly more bearable queue.

If you're camping at Lee Valley Campsite in Sewardstone - just 3.6 miles away - this makes a decent half-day option when the kids need burning out. It won't replace a proper day out, but as a supplement to park time, it works. The Chingford area has enough green space that you could easily combine this with walking routes along the reservoirs.