Canyon Ride Waterslide

The Canyon Ride at Penrith is basically a proper waterslide built into a natural ravine - the sort of thing that either sounds brilliant fun or slightly mad depending on your tolerance for wet thrills. You're sliding down a constructed channel that follows the contours of the landscape, which means the ride has genuine drops and angles rather than feeling like a tame park attraction. It's the kind of thing kids will want to do repeatedly, and if you've got teenagers who think they're too cool for family holidays, this tends to change their mind fast.

The ride sits near Penrith, which makes it convenient if you're based at any of the nearby holiday parks - Crossfells Campsite is your best bet at just over two miles away, and both Crossfells and Howdy Glamping have excellent reviews. Allow a couple of hours if you're taking it seriously, though it's worth checking opening hours before you go as water attractions can be temperamental with the weather. Bring a towel and a change of clothes, obviously.

This works best as part of a bigger day out rather than a standalone trip. The Lake District is right there, so you could easily pair it with woodland walks or a visit to one of the proper lakes. It's not going to keep a three-year-old occupied all afternoon, but for families with kids aged six and up, it's a solid afternoon activity - especially on a warm day when getting soaked feels like a feature, not a problem.