Peterhead Community, Theatre and Leisure Centre

The leisure centre sits right in Peterhead's town centre, a proper modern facility that's actually worth the trip if you're staying at Marina Bay Holiday Park just down the road. The swimming pool is the main draw - a decent indoor setup with multiple pools including a shallow one for younger kids, which means you're not fighting for space with serious lap swimmers. The water's warm enough, though it does get rammed during school holidays.

Beyond the pool there's a gym, fitness classes, and a small theatre venue that occasionally hosts touring productions. It's the sort of place that keeps families entertained on a rainy Scottish afternoon without breaking the bank. Free car parking helps too. Allow a couple of hours if you're doing a proper swim session with the kids; an hour's enough if you just want a quick splash about.

For a coastal town holiday, this works well as a backup activity rather than a main draw. You'd genuinely get more out of spending time exploring Peterhead's actual seafront and the working harbour. But if the weather's foul or the children are restless, it's convenient and does the job. The proximity to Marina Bay Holiday Park means you can pop over without much faffing about. Admission isn't free - expect to pay standard leisure centre rates - but it's reasonable enough. Best visited mid-week when it's quieter, unless you fancy the chaos of a weekend full of school groups.