LED Colyton Sports Centre

The leisure centre in Seaton's backyard is one of those facilities you'd stumble upon while exploring East Devon, not somewhere you'd plan a holiday around - but it's genuinely useful if you're based nearby. LED Colyton Sports Centre does the basics well: a swimming pool that's actually decent for lengths, a gym, and sports halls. The pool's the real draw for families, particularly on Saturday mornings when it's less rammed than weekday evenings.

Opening hours are a bit limiting if you're imagining lazy-morning swimming. Weekdays don't kick off until half five, and Saturday sessions wrap up by one o'clock - fine if you've got a specific session in mind, less so if you're the sort who likes drifting down on a whim. Friday nights finish early too at nine.

If you're staying at Beer Head Holiday Park just up the road, this is genuinely convenient rather than a destination in itself. Kids will get a solid hour of pool time before boredom sets in. The facility's clean and well-run, but it lacks the bells and whistles of the big chains - no lazy river, no flumes, no slides. What you get is straightforward recreation.

The real advantage is location. Seaton itself has proper charm, with the shingle beach and the Tramway nearby. Use the leisure centre as a rainy-day option or to burn off energy mid-holiday, then get outside for the interesting bits. It's functional rather than special, but sometimes that's exactly what you need.