Ocean Boulevard Fun Park

Ocean Boulevard Fun Park sits right on Felixstowe's seafront, the sort of place that's been pulling families through its gates since before most of us had smartphones. It's a traditional amusement park - dodgems, a roller coaster, the usual grab of rides that'll keep children entertained for a solid afternoon without requiring a second mortgage.

The rides are modest by modern standards, which honestly suits the setting. You're not coming here for white-knuckle thrills; you're coming because you've parked up at Felixstowe Beach Holiday Park or Peewit Caravans round the corner and need to fill a few hours before tea. The seafront location means you get salt air and decent ice-cream stalls, which elevates it beyond your average provincial fairground.

Kids aged four to twelve will get genuine value from it. Teenagers might find it a bit dated, and it's not the sort of place to hold their attention for hours. Allow two to three hours if you're doing rides properly, maybe just one if you're cutting through to grab a snack and ride the big wheel for the view.

Best visited on a dry day - there's not much shelter if the weather turns, and rain takes the shine off an outdoor park quickly. Early July or late August, when school holidays are well underway but the August bank holiday crush hasn't yet arrived, is usually your sweet spot.

It works brilliantly as a quick family fix while staying at one of the nearby caravans. Suffolk Sands and Dovercourt Holiday Park are both within reach for a day trip too, if you're looking to combine it with beach time.