Waterslide

The waterslide near Ripon is one of those oddly compelling attractions that you stumble upon and think, 'How did I not know this existed?' It's a proper bit of Yorkshire oddity - a slide built into the landscape that lets you career down into a pool below, all set against the North Yorkshire countryside.

This works best for families with older kids and teenagers who won't spend the whole time worrying about wet clothes. Younger children might find it either thrilling or terrifying depending on their temperament. Adults often get a kick out of the nostalgia factor - there's something brilliantly retro about chucking yourself down a water slide in rural England. Just bring a towel and don't expect changing facilities to be elaborate.

You won't need more than an hour here unless you're planning to do multiple runs, which some people absolutely do. The slide itself is brief but sharp enough to feel like proper fun. Time it for a warm day and you'll have a laugh. Visit in April and you'll regret every life choice.

If you're staying at nearby Sleningford Watermill or Camp Kátur Glamping, this makes a decent half-day activity - worth adding to an itinerary rather than planning a special trip around it. It's got that particular appeal of being just different enough from standard park activities to break up a week of walking and traditional attractions. Ripon's close enough that you can combine it with the town's other sights without much effort.