Tunnel Time

Tunnel Time sits just east of Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire, and it's one of those attractions that works best if you know what you're after. It's a leisure facility built around - yes - tunnels, offering an oddly specific kind of fun that appeals to families after something different from the usual park day out.

What you actually get is access to underground tunnel systems where you can wander, explore, and generally have a poke about. It's the kind of thing that grabs kids aged roughly five to twelve - anything younger and they might find it a bit claustrophobic, anything older and they'll likely think it's beneath them. Adults tend to enjoy it as a curiosity rather than a main event.

The nearest proper base is Waltham Cross, though you're better served by the cluster of holiday parks dotted around Lee Valley - Dobbs Weir and Sewardstone campsites sit just 3.5 miles away and give you proper outdoorsy grounds to return to after exploring underground. It's the sort of activity that slots neatly into a longer Lee Valley stay rather than a standalone destination.

Be honest though: it's not a full day's entertainment. Budget two hours maximum, less if your kids lose interest in the dark. The admission details and opening hours aren't publicly clear online, so you'll need to ring ahead before planning your visit. If you're camping nearby and want to break up a rainy afternoon, fair enough. If you're driving an hour specially, probably not worth the fuel.