Skegness Water Leisure Park

The Water Leisure Park sits right on Skegness's seafront, a straightforward spot for a splash about if you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Butlins or Haven. It's essentially an outdoor swimming complex with various pools - some heated, some for lap swimmers, others designed with families in mind. The setup is functional rather than fancy, but on a decent day the sea views lift it above your standard municipal pool.

You'll want to come in summer when the weather's worth the effort. Allow a couple of hours if you're just doing a casual dip, half a day if the kids are determined to exhaust themselves. It's free to use the grounds, though actual pool entry will cost you - check the website for current rates.

The park works best as a rainy-day backup or a morning activity to tire out younger children before lunch. It's not a destination in itself, but if you're based at one of the caravan parks within walking distance - North Shore is barely a mile away - it's convenient enough. Older kids and serious swimmers will find more to do here than casual paddlers, though it lacks the entertainment value of proper theme parks further afield. The Lincolnshire coast isn't Scotland, so manage expectations accordingly.