Mini Monsters

Mini Monsters is a daft little theme park near Oakham that specialises in rides and attractions scaled down for younger children. Think bumper cars, log flumes, and spinning rides - all the theme park classics, just without requiring you to remortgage the house for a day out. The whole thing has that charmingly ramshackle feel of a proper British amusement park, the kind where kids actually have more fun than the Instagram aesthetic would suggest.

It works best for families with children under ten. Anything older and they'll probably find it a bit tame, unless they've got a genuine soft spot for vintage fairground rides. You're looking at two to three hours maximum here, which is exactly why it pairs well with staying at Greendale Farm Caravan & Camping Park just down the road - you can do Mini Monsters in the morning, head back for lunch, then tackle whatever else Rutland throws at you in the afternoon.

The park is free to enter, though you'll pay per ride. It's the kind of place that rewards a loose handful of coins rather than the all-day-pass treatment. Summers are obviously busier, so weekday visits or shoulder season trips tend to work better if you want to avoid queuing for a two-minute ride.

Honestly? It's not going to blow your mind. But if you're based in the area with small children and need a couple of hours of managed chaos, it absolutely does the job. Don't expect thrill rides or Instagram moments - expect sticky floors and genuine childhood joy.