Highgate House swimming pool

The leisure centre at Highgate House near Northampton is exactly what it sounds like - a proper public swimming facility with all the usual trimmings. You've got your main pool for lengths, a shallow end for kids, and typically a splash area if you're after something warmer. It's the sort of place where local families actually spend their afternoons, not somewhere Instagram has heard of.

Who'd get the most from it? Families with young swimmers, definitely. If your children need to burn off energy or you're staying at one of the glamping sites dotted around the area - Lakeview or Moon Valley are only four miles away - this beats driving into central Northampton hunting for something to do. It's also decent for adults after a proper swim, though expect peak times to be chaos.

The truth is, a leisure centre visit isn't a holiday highlight on its own. But paired with a week at Northants Caravan Site or one of the posher glamping spots nearby, it's the sort of no-fuss activity that keeps everyone happy on a drizzly afternoon. Northampton itself has enough going on to make it worth basing yourself here for a few days rather than somewhere more remote.

You'll need to check their opening hours and admission prices online before you go - they do vary - but generally reckon on a couple of hours for a proper session. Early mornings tend to be quieter if you want actual space to swim.