Ryedale Swim & Fitness Centre

You'll find the pool right in Pickering town centre - a proper functional leisure centre rather than a destination in itself, but exactly the sort of place that makes a rainy-day rescue on a park holiday. Two pools: one for lengths, one for families with a shallow end that toddlers can actually stand in without going under. The gym and fitness classes run all week, though the opening hours are worth checking if you're planning an early swim before heading out.

Best suited to families with young kids or anyone who swims regularly and doesn't want to lose their routine while on holiday. The shallow pool does get busy at weekends, so mornings mid-week are your best bet. If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Swallowtails is just a ten-minute walk away, same with Lakeside - this becomes genuinely useful on a day when the Yorkshire weather turns properly grim.

Admission isn't free, but it's managed through Everyone Active so you'll pay by session. Factor in an hour minimum if you've got kids; serious swimmers might want ninety minutes. It's not the sort of place you'd travel for, but if you're based in the area for a week, it's worth knowing about. The town itself is worth a proper explore when you're done - Pickering has a decent high street and the old steam railway runs right through it.