Ibstock Swimming Pool

Ibstock Swimming Pool sits in a small Leicestershire town that most people only pass through on the way to somewhere else. It's a proper community leisure facility - the sort of place where locals actually swim lengths rather than splash about - and it does exactly what it says on the tin without any fuss or pretension.

You get a main pool for serious swimmers and typically a shallower section for families with younger children. It's functional rather than flashy, which means you won't find waterslides or wave machines, but you will find decent lap space and reasonable water temperature. Midweek mornings are quietest if you're after a peaceful swim; weekend afternoons can get rammed with school groups and families.

This works best for people who actually want to swim rather than mess about. Families with kids old enough to manage beyond the paddling stage will get real value from it. History buffs and walkers won't find much to detain them here - it's purely functional leisure.

The pool sits about three miles from The Dandelion Hideaway and Fire & Stars Woodland Camping, making it a decent rainy-day option if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks around Bosworth or Charnwood. Allow an hour to 90 minutes including changing time. Opening hours and admission prices vary, so ring ahead before you go - it's the sort of local authority facility where things can shift seasonally.