Sandford Parks Lido

There's something properly nostalgic about lidos in summer - and Sandford Parks Lido, just outside Cheltenham, delivers that in spades. It's an open-air swimming pool complex with the kind of old-school charm that makes you want to pack a striped towel and a Cornetto. The main pool is Olympic-length, but there's also a shallow leisure pool, paddling area for littluns, and sun loungers spread across the grounds if you fancy topping up your tan between swims.

Families absolutely thrive here. Kids can splash about safely in the shallow end while parents actually get to sit down and read a book - revolutionary, I know. The setting is genuinely pleasant, with plenty of green space and decent facilities. It's the sort of place where a summer's day stretches properly long.

If you're camping at one of the nearby sites - Cheltenham Racecourse Caravan Park is closest at under two miles, or Coxhorne Glamping if you fancy something glitzier - the lido makes for an easy morning or afternoon trip. You're talking 10-15 minutes' drive from the campsite. Check their website for opening hours and admission prices before you go, as these can vary seasonally. On a sunny day during school holidays it'll be heaving, so aim for a weekday morning if you can. Allow three to four hours to make it worthwhile - enough time for a proper swim without feeling rushed.