Conkers National Forest Centre

The woodland visitor centre sits deep in the National Forest, a few miles north of Swadlincote, and it's the sort of place that works better than you'd expect. Conkers isn't just a gift shop with a cafe - there's actually proper woodland exploration here, with trails winding through the trees and enough activity stations to keep kids occupied for a solid couple of hours without them moaning about boredom.

You'll find interactive exhibits inside covering the National Forest's story - how this massive reforestation project has transformed a former mining landscape. The outdoor bit is the real draw though. There are woodland walks of varying length, play areas built into the natural terrain rather than bolted onto tarmac, and enough space to let children burn off some steam. Fair warning: it gets muddy after rain, which is either brilliant or annoying depending on your tolerance levels.

Families with primary-school-age kids will get the most mileage here. Teenagers might find it a bit low-key unless they're into foraging or wildlife spotting. Admission's reasonable value, and you're looking at two to three hours comfortably if you do the longer walks.

Stay at Fire & Stars Woodland Camping just down the road - it's got excellent reviews and the proximity means you can slip over for half a day without wrestling with parking. New Forest View Caravan Site is another decent option nearby. Either way, it works well as a morning activity paired with a proper woodland walk elsewhere in the National Forest.