Saltdean Lido

The curved art deco facade of Saltdean Lido catches the afternoon sun like something from a 1930s postcard - except it's real and still working. Just east of Brighton, this open-air swimming pool remains one of the coast's most distinctive leisure spots, with that distinctive streamlined white building acting as a proper landmark.

It's genuinely worth a visit if you're in the area with kids or you're after a nostalgic seaside swim. The main pool is Olympic-sized, and there's a separate children's pool for the little ones to splash about safely. On a decent summer's day the whole place has that holiday camp atmosphere - families with buckets and spades, teenagers showing off, grandparents reading on deckchairs.

The lido operates seasonally from late May through August, which makes sense given it's outdoors. Admission is reasonable enough for a family session, though you'll want to check current prices before heading down. Allow a good three hours minimum if you're serious about swimming rather than just paddling for an hour.

It fits brilliantly into a holiday park stay at Three Ponds, just four miles away - close enough for a half-day outing without eating into driving time. The setting is genuinely lovely, with the South Downs rising behind and the sea beyond. Word of warning: it gets rammed on bank holidays, so a weekday morning visit is far smarter.