Joyland

Joyland sits just outside Great Yarmouth and is basically what happens when a traditional British seaside amusement park decides to stick around. You get the usual rides - nothing that'll have thrill-seekers racing back, but enough to keep younger kids occupied for a solid afternoon. There's that slightly faded charm you either find endearing or a bit tired depending on your mood.

The park works best for families with children under twelve. Teenagers will likely find it small and dated, while adults without kids might manage an hour, tops, before heading into town for something less sticky. The rides are gentle - dodgems, a log flume, various spinning things - the sort of place where nobody goes home traumatised.

Access is straightforward from Great Yarmouth centre, and it's close enough to several holiday parks that you could base yourself at Haven Seashore or Haven Caister-on-Sea and treat Joyland as a rainy-day activity rather than a pilgrimage. If you're staying at one of the parks further out - Parkdean Resorts California Cliffs or Broadland Sands - it's still only a short drive.

Bring cash. The admission is reasonable, but food and ride tokens add up quickly. Go early in the day if schools are on holiday, or midweek if you can. Summer weekends get rammed with local families, and queues for the decent rides stretch longer than they should for what's on offer. It's neither brilliant nor terrible - just a competent way to spend a few hours by the seaside.