Lagan Valley LeisurePlex

The Lagan Valley LeisurePlex sits on the outskirts of Lisburn, about six miles from the Georgian charm of Hillsborough, and it's proper industrial-looking from the outside - all concrete and steel. But step inside and you've got what amounts to the main water park for this corner of Northern Ireland. There's a wave machine that actually works, several slides ranging from gentle to stomach-lurching, and a lazy river that meanders long enough to feel like you're getting away from it all, even if you're not.

It's absolutely where families with younger children should head if the weather turns decent. The shallow pools are well supervised and there's enough variety that kids won't lose interest after an hour. Adults? You'll have a decent time on the bigger slides, but it's not the sort of place you'd travel hours for on your own. The wave pool is the draw - proper fun when it's going, though queues can get silly during school holidays.

Admission isn't free, and you'll want to budget two to three hours minimum. Opening hours are 11am to 5pm most days, but it's worth checking their website as these places have more exceptions than you'd think. If you're staying at Lakeside View Caravan Park nearby, this makes an easy wet-weather option. Not essential, but on a rainy Irish afternoon with restless kids, it does the job well enough.