Community Sports Center

The Community Sports Center in Lowestoft isn't going to make your holiday Instagram feed sing, but it's genuinely useful if you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Azure Seas is barely a mile away - and the weather turns grey. It's a proper local facility: indoor courts, a gym, swimming pool, and whatever league matches happen to be on that week. You'll find mums with pushchairs using the pool facilities, teenagers shooting hoops, and the occasional badminton tournament.

Families with younger kids will get the most out of the swimming pool, which tends to have designated family times. Older children who want to actually do something sporty rather than just eat ice cream on the seafront might fancy a few hours here. Adults after a gym session or a swim will find it perfectly adequate, though don't expect anything fancy.

Head in mid-morning or late afternoon to avoid the school crowd. Most community centers charge entry by activity - you'll typically pay per swim or per court hire - so it's not expensive, but check their current pricing before you rock up. Allow two to three hours if you're doing pool and a bite to eat in their cafe.

It works well as a rainy-day backup alongside the coastal walks and amusement arcades Lowestoft does well. If you're at Haven Hopton or Parkdean Resorts Kessingland just down the coast, it's close enough for an afternoon sortie but far enough that you won't feel like you're missing the seaside.