Lime Kiln Leisure Centre

A leisure centre on the edge of Swindon that does what it says on the tin - swimming pools, gym, courts, the lot. Lime Kiln is the sort of place you'd find yourself if you're staying at Park Farm Campsite nearby and the weather turns dodgy, or if your kids have boundless energy and you need to burn it off indoors.

The pools are the main draw. There's a main pool for proper swimmers and usually a shallow area for younger children, though I'd check current opening times before making the trip - leisure centres do shuffle their schedules around. The gym's decent enough if you've forgotten your training routine, and they've got badminton and squash courts if you fancy a competitive knockabout.

It's not a destination in itself, frankly. You're not driving across Wiltshire to spend the day here. But if you're based at Park Farm for a week and need a rainy-day option or want to do something structured, it serves its purpose. The facilities are well-maintained rather than fancy, and there's proper car parking, which counts for something.

Best for families with kids under ten who still think swimming is the height of entertainment, or for anyone needing a gym session without the pretence. Give it two hours maximum unless you're really settling in for the afternoon. Ring ahead to check what's actually open and whether you need to book - these places got proper strict about that sort of thing.