Hobbledown Heath

You'll find Hobbledown Heath just outside Walton-on-Thames, a proper working farm that's been converted into a theme park where kids can actually do things rather than just queue for rides. It's part petting zoo, part adventure playground, part educational farm - the sort of place where your six-year-old will spend hours while you grab a coffee and pretend to supervise.

The appeal is straightforward: animals you can touch and feed, play areas that don't require a second mortgage, and enough activity to tire out the under-tens without breaking the bank. There's tractor rides, climbing frames, slides, and various farm animals dotted about. It's not Thorpe Park - there are no white-knuckle rides here - but that's rather the point. Families with younger children will get genuine value, while older kids might exhaust the entertainment within a couple of hours.

The site's free to enter, though you'll pay for activities like rides and animal feeds. Allow three to four hours if you're doing it properly, longer if you're the type to sit and have lunch on-site. Early weekday visits beat weekends by miles - the queues for tractor rides get tedious fast.

For a caravan holiday in the area, it slots in nicely between the Thames-side walks and visits to nearby towns. Base yourself at Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site or Laleham Camping Club - both within easy reach - and you've got a proper day out without the theme park prices you'd pay elsewhere.