Aquarium

Chester's aquarium sits right in the heart of the city, making it a convenient rainy-day stop if you're basing yourself at Birch Bank Farm or Netherwood Touring Site nearby. The tanks are decent enough - you'll see tropical fish, rays, and the usual suspects that kids find compelling for about an hour or so. It's not enormous, so don't expect to lose half a day here, but it's well-organised and the staff know their stuff.

Families with younger children will get the most from it. Teenagers might find it a bit small-scale, and serious aquarium enthusiasts will notice it doesn't attempt to compete with the bigger attractions down in Manchester or Liverpool. The walk from either caravan site into Chester centre is straightforward, which means you can combine it with exploring the medieval streets and Roman walls without faff.

If the weather turns foul during your park holiday, this works as a solid backup plan rather than a destination in itself. The real draw of staying in this corner of Cheshire is the countryside around Chester and the nearby parks - the aquarium is just something to do between walks and proper days out. Allow 60-90 minutes and you'll have seen everything worth seeing. It's not going to make or break your trip, but it's useful to have in your back pocket.