Spinning Spider

The Spinning Spider is a modest theme park tucked into Bracknell Forest, just a short drive from Windsor. It's the sort of place that works brilliantly for younger children - think spinning rides, gentle thrills, and enough going on to keep them entertained for a couple of hours without breaking the bank or your nerves. The rides have that cheerful, slightly worn-in quality you get with family-run attractions; nothing fancy, but it does the job.

This isn't the place to bring teenagers expecting white-knuckle roller coasters. Instead, it's ideal if you've got kids aged three to eight and you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Cranbourne Hall or Queens Acre are close enough that you could easily pop over for an afternoon. The whole thing has that unpretentious, local feel that can actually be refreshing after the corporate sprawl of the bigger parks.

It's worth ringing ahead before you visit, as opening hours and admission fees aren't publicly listed online. That said, the proximity to Windsor - with its castle, riverside walks, and proper town amenities - means you're never short of backup plans if the weather turns or you need something else to do that day. Park your caravan nearby and you've got a decent little family circuit sorted: the Spider for a spin, Windsor for the main event, and the Bracknell Forest itself for proper walks if anyone needs to burn off energy.