Sea Life Centre

The underwater tunnel at Brighton's Sea Life Centre is genuinely brilliant - sharks gliding overhead while you walk through glass with the sea literally above your head. It's the sort of thing that stops kids dead in their tracks, though the whole experience takes about ninety minutes if you're not dawdling.

You're looking at a proper aquarium with the full roster: seahorses, rays, tropical fish, and those aforementioned sharks. The setup works well because you move through themed zones rather than just staring at random tanks. There's a touch pool where younger visitors can actually handle starfish and sea urchins, which tends to be the highlight for the under-eights crowd.

Admission isn't cheap - it's a paid attraction - so factor that into your budget. Book online in advance and you'll save a few quid. The place gets rammed during school holidays and weekends, so go on a weekday morning if you can.

If you're camping nearby, this works brilliantly as a half-day outing. Pegs and Pitches is only 1.3 miles away, so you could easily pop in after lunch and be back for tea. Chalky Downs, slightly further at 2.8 miles, makes it a reasonable drive. Don't expect to spend a full day here unless your kids are absolutely obsessed with fish - it's more of a solid rainy-day option or a break from the beach. Brighton itself is right there if you want to combine it with the pier and seafront.