Maidstone Leisure Centre

The leisure centre sits right in Maidstone town itself, which means it's genuinely convenient if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Bearsted or Oak View. It's a proper community sports facility - swimming pools, gym, sports halls, the works. Not a day-tripper attraction in the traditional sense, but absolutely brilliant if you've got kids who need to burn off energy midweek during a caravan holiday.

The pools are the main draw. There's a main pool for lap swimmers and a smaller learner pool, which families find useful. The gym and indoor sports courts mean you can do something active whatever the weather throws at you - Kent rain included. On a drizzly Tuesday in August, when everyone's fed up of the campsite, it's frankly a lifesaver.

Admission isn't free, but day passes are reasonable. You'll want to ring ahead or check their website for current prices and opening times, as these change seasonally. Allow two to three hours if you're doing a proper visit with the kids - longer if you're adding the gym.

It won't excite you as a tourist destination, but that's not the point. This is honest infrastructure for a rainy-day option when you're based nearby. If you're staying at Glamping @ Rankins Farm or Kits Coty and need an indoor activity, it's well worth the short drive into town.