Berkhamsted Tennis and Squash Club

The courts at Berkhamsted Tennis and Squash Club won't win any architectural awards, but that's rather the point. This is proper local sports territory - the kind of place where people actually play rather than pose. You'll find six tennis courts and squash facilities that cater to serious players and keen amateurs alike, with the sort of no-nonsense atmosphere you get in Buckinghamshire clubs that have been running the same way for decades.

It's membership-based, so you can't simply rock up and have a knock about unless you know someone. Worth ringing ahead if you're thinking of joining for a week or arranging a guest match. The club sits handily near Chesham, making it accessible if you're staying at one of the nearby camping spots - Highridge Farm or Norcott Campsite are both within two miles.

For families on a park holiday, this works if you've got kids keen on racquet sports and want proper coaching. Weekend mornings tend to be busiest. The real appeal is less about the venue itself and more about what it represents - a functional, social space where the focus is on the game rather than the Instagram angle. If you're after tournament-standard facilities or flashy surroundings, look elsewhere. But if you want to actually play tennis or squash seriously, with people who care about the sport, this delivers.