Jimmy G's Pirate Park

A pirate-themed playground on the Isle of Sheppey might sound like a gimmick, but Jimmy G's actually delivers the sort of low-key fun that keeps kids entertained for a solid couple of hours. You get the usual suspects - slides, climbing frames, a ball pit - all dressed up in swashbuckling décor that's more playful than scary. The theming is cheerful rather than elaborate, which works in its favour. It's free entry and close enough to Sheerness that you can pop in without planning a whole day around it.

Who's it for? Younger children, really - under eights will get the most mileage out of it. Older kids might find it bit basic once they've explored the main attractions. If you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Central Beach or Harts, it's a convenient rainy-day option or a quick morning visit before heading to the beach proper. Nothing revolutionary, but it does what it says on the tin.

The advantage of staying locally - Muswell Manor is just up the road - is that you can test-drive it without much commitment. Pack a packed lunch, let the children burn off energy, then head somewhere else if they're bored. It's the sort of place that works best as part of a mixed itinerary rather than a destination in itself. Sheerness has enough going on nearby that you won't feel you've wasted a trip if Jimmy G's only fills an hour.