Freeman's Quay Pool

Freeman's Quay Pool sits right on Durham's riverfront, a proper local spot that most visitors walk straight past without noticing. It's an open-air swimming pool - the kind where you can actually see the Wear flowing past while you're doing your lengths, which sounds nicer than it actually is when the water's cold. The pool itself is fairly standard: lap lanes, a shallow end for kids, and changing facilities. Nothing fancy, but it does the job.

This place is for serious swimmers rather than families after a day out. If you're staying at one of the caravan parks nearby - Durham Grange is barely two miles away - and you're keen to maintain a routine rather than break it, this saves a trek. The pool's also useful if you've got older kids who actually want to swim properly rather than splash about. Younger children might find it a bit uninspiring; the novelty wears off fast.

The real value is the setting. You're right in the heart of Durham, so you can combine a swim with a wander round the cathedral and castle precinct without needing to drive anywhere. Timing-wise, expect to spend an hour in the water and factor in changing time either side. Admission and opening hours aren't widely advertised online, so ring Durham City Council direct before you go - nothing worse than arriving with goggles on only to find it's closed for maintenance.