Kingsmead Pools and Fitness

The leisure centre just outside Canterbury is proper functional - a no-nonsense sports facility that gets the job done without any faffing about. Kingsmead Pools has the usual suspects: indoor pools for lap swimming, a shallow section for younger kids, and a fitness gym if you're the type who can't bear to skip a workout while on holiday.

It's the sort of place you'd visit if you're camping nearby and need to burn off energy on a rainy afternoon, rather than somewhere you'd plan your entire trip around. The pools themselves are well-maintained, and the gym equipment looks reasonably up to date. Staff are straightforward and helpful.

Families staying at Nethergong Camping - which is just five miles away - will find this a handy option for wet weather days. The pools won't blow your mind, but they're decent enough if your kids are obsessed with swimming. Keen swimmers training seriously will appreciate the lap facilities, though it's not a competition-standard venue.

With Canterbury's cathedral and medieval streets on your doorstep, you probably won't want to spend your entire holiday indoors here. But as part of a mixed holiday involving actual sightseeing, it's a solid backup plan. Allow an hour or two if you're just doing a casual swim, longer if you're hitting the gym as well. Best to ring ahead about current opening times and admission fees - leisure centres shuffle their schedules about.