Studio 16

Studio 16 sits just outside Lydney in Gloucestershire, serving as the area's main sports venue for everything from badminton to basketball. It's a proper community facility - the kind of place where locals come to actually use equipment rather than gawp at it. The courts are well-maintained, and if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like Deanwood or Whitemead Forest Park, it's worth knowing about if the kids need burning off indoors on a wet afternoon.

The venue works best for families looking for structured activity rather than a casual drop-in. Most sessions require booking ahead, and you'll want to check their current timetable before you turn up - opening hours and pricing aren't widely advertised online. Allow an hour or two depending on what you're doing. If you're serious about a specific sport, ring them first and ask what's running when.

For a holiday based around the Forest of Dean caravan sites dotted within five miles, Studio 16 fits in nicely as a backup option on grey days. The Severn Valley and Forest and Wye Valley sites are close enough that it's worth a short drive if your crowd fancies a game of badminton or wants to use the gym. It's not a destination in itself - you're not coming to Gloucestershire for this. But as part of a broader outdoor break exploring the forest and local attractions, it does the job. Realistic about what it is: a functional local sports hall, not a themed complex.