DUPLO Valley

Colourful plastic bricks the size of your head stacked into a proper funfair-style landscape - that's DUPLO Valley in Bracknell Forest, basically a theme park version of the toy that's probably still wedged behind your sofa. It's designed for the under-fives crowd, though you'll spot parents with older siblings tagging along too, all wandering round oversized DUPLO structures and riding attractions scaled down to toddler proportions.

The whole thing is very much a marketing exercise - you're essentially paying to play with branded plastic - but small kids do lose their minds here. There's a decent number of rides and building areas scattered about, enough to keep a three-year-old occupied for a couple of hours if you're generous about the timing. Expect pushchairs, crowds during school holidays, and prices that make you wince.

It's worth adding to a trip to the area rather than making the journey solely for this. If you're based at somewhere like Cranbourne Hall or Queens Acre - both within spitting distance - and the weather's turning, it's a solid indoor-ish option. Though honestly, Windsor's castle and riverside walks will probably entertain your family just as well and cost a fraction of the price. DUPLO Valley works best as a rainy-day backup plan rather than a main event. Kids who are mad about DUPLO will love it; everyone else might find 90 minutes feels about right.