Poole Stadium

Poole Stadium sits on the edge of town and serves as the home of Poole Speedway, the sort of place where you can watch motorbike riders throw themselves around a tight oval track at speeds that make your stomach drop. It's proper atmospheric on race nights - the smell of fuel, the roar of engines, the whole crowd wincing as bikes slide within inches of the barriers.

The stadium hosts speedway meetings throughout the season, typically from March through October, and it's the kind of spectator sport that works brilliantly if you've got a taste for controlled chaos. Families with older kids tend to lap it up; younger ones sometimes find the noise overwhelming. The races are genuinely thrilling - no choreography, just riders trying not to wipe out on a muddy track while going flat out.

If you're staying at one of the caravan parks nearby - Haven Rockley Park is just over two miles away - a night at the stadium makes for proper entertainment that beats sitting in the holiday park bar. South Lytchett Manor and Dorset Glamping are similarly close. Admission costs vary depending on the event, but it's usually reasonable for what you get.

Worth knowing: the weather can be grim, so bring a jacket and waterproofs. The track can get muddy, and queues for the bar are inevitable. But if you catch a good night with close racing, you'll leave buzzing. Check their fixtures online before you book your holiday - it's worth timing your trip around the meetings.