Funland

Funland sits just outside Blackpool and is exactly what it says on the tin - a traditional amusement park where you can lose a few quid on the rides and games without breaking the bank. It's the sort of place that still feels like the seaside holidays of twenty years ago, which is either its charm or its limitation depending on your outlook.

The park runs various fairground attractions - dodgems, rides, arcade machines - the kind of thing that keeps kids occupied for an afternoon without requiring a second mortgage. It's not going to compete with Blackpool Pleasure Beach for thrills or scale, but it doesn't need to. If you're staying at Marton Mere or Newton Hall Holiday Village nearby, both within spitting distance at 2.4 miles, Funland works as a rainy-day option or a gentle evening out rather than a full day's adventure.

Realistic expectations matter here. Arrive expecting the sort of fair you'd find at a proper English seaside resort in the 1980s and you'll have a decent time. Come looking for cutting-edge roller coasters and you'll walk away disappointed. The rides aren't fancy but they work, and there's something oddly reassuring about that.

Family groups with younger kids will get the most mileage from it - teenagers might find it a bit slow. Admission details aren't widely publicised, so phone ahead or check when you're settling into your caravan at one of the surrounding parks. It's the sort of place that rewards a low-fuss visit rather than high expectations.