Poole Dolphin Leisure Centre

The leisure centre sits right in Poole itself, a proper sports facility rather than a tourist attraction in the traditional sense. You'll find pools, a gym, sports halls - the kind of place locals use for their weekly swim or badminton session. If you're staying at Haven Rockley Park or one of the other nearby holiday parks, it's worth knowing about if the weather turns or if you fancy a change of pace from the beach.

The swimming pools are the main draw for families. There's a teaching pool for younger kids and larger pools for proper swimmers. The leisure centre also has a fitness suite and various classes throughout the week, so it appeals to people who actually want to do something rather than just look at things. It's not a water park with slides and thrills - this is functional, no-nonsense exercise infrastructure.

Who gets the most from it? Honestly, families staying in the area who need an indoor activity, or anyone serious about keeping up a fitness routine while on holiday. Kids under five might get an hour out of the shallow pool, but older children expecting entertainment will find it a bit dull. It's functional rather than fun.

You'll need to check current prices and opening hours on their website - leisure centres vary on fees and times by season. From the holiday parks it's only a short drive in to Poole itself, so if you're based at Rockley or South Lytchett Manor and fancy a break from caravan life, it's convenient enough. But it's not the reason to visit Dorset.