Spa 6

Cirencester's public swimming pool is a straightforward facility that does exactly what it says on the tin - provides a proper place to swim and splash about without pretension. You get the main pool for serious swimmers, a smaller learner pool for kids and nervous adults, and usually a shallow area for toddlers. It's run-of-the-mill stuff, really, the kind of leisure centre you'd find on the outskirts of any market town.

Families with young children will appreciate the learner facilities and relatively soft approach to pool rules. Serious swimmers might find it a touch busy during peak hours - school holidays and weekends can get rammed. Off-peak mornings tend to be quieter if you're after a proper workout.

The pool is free or charges a modest admission fee (details aren't entirely clear online, so ring ahead). Allow about an hour and a half if you're bringing kids, longer if you're actually doing lengths. Weekday mornings are your best bet for a peaceful session.

If you're staying at Hoburne Cotswold Holiday Park just up the road - barely a mile away - this makes a decent half-day activity when the weather turns iffy. Cirencester itself has enough going on with the Roman Amphitheatre and the town market to keep you occupied for a full day, so the pool works as a break rather than a main event. Don't expect anything fancy, just a functional public pool that serves the local community well.