Hardy's Animal Farm

A working farm just outside Skegness where you can actually get hands-on with the animals rather than just gawping from a distance. Hardy's lets kids feed and handle rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small creatures - the sort of thing that keeps a five-year-old occupied for a solid couple of hours. There's also a chance to see larger animals around the farm itself, though it's not a sprawling safari setup.

This is absolutely a family thing. Adults without young children won't find much to hold their attention, but if you've got restless kids in tow during a Skegness holiday, it beats another hour on the beach. The hands-on element is the draw - children remember feeding animals far more than they remember looking at them through a fence.

The farm sits close enough to Skegness that it's an easy afternoon slot between the holiday parks scattered around - North Shore, Southview, or Seaview are all within easy reach. Fair warning: opening hours and admission prices weren't readily available when checking, so you'll want to ring ahead or search locally before turning up with a carful of excited kids. Peak season weekends can get proper rammed, so a weekday visit makes for a far more relaxed experience. It's the sort of place that works well as a break from the standard seaside attractions, not a destination in itself.