Go Action Stations

Action Stations near Ashford is the sort of place where you turn up expecting one thing and leave having had quite another. It's an adventure activity centre that takes the term seriously - think go-kart racing, laser tag, and various outdoor challenges that'll either delight or exhaust your crew depending on their tolerance for competitive chaos.

Families with children aged 8 and up tend to get the most from it. Younger kids might find some activities a bit intense, but there's enough variety that most age groups find something. The go-karting alone keeps people entertained for hours if you're that way inclined. What works particularly well is that it's not all screen-based - there's proper physical activity mixed in with the racing and games.

The setting itself is fairly industrial; don't expect countryside vistas. It's functional rather than beautiful, but that's rather the point. You're paying for activities, not scenery. Allow a minimum of three hours if you're doing multiple attractions, longer if you want to have a real go at the racing.

For a holiday based at one of the nearby glamping spots - Go Glamp is just a mile away, or there's Wood View Farm and Wildside Camping slightly further out - Action Stations works brilliantly as a half-day break from countryside pursuits. Not essential, but worth knowing about if the weather turns poor or the kids need burning out. It's the sort of place that saves a rainy afternoon.