MONSTER SLIP AND SLIDE BUDE, CORNWALL

The Monster Slip and Slide sits right on Bude's seafront, a gloriously simple piece of seaside fun that shouldn't work as well as it does. You're essentially racing down a long inflatable slide into the sea - there's no pretence, no theme park nonsense, just pure adrenaline. The slide's proper steep, the landing splash is genuinely cold, and you'll be queuing up for another go within seconds.

It's peak entertainment for families with kids aged 6 to 16. Younger children might find it intimidating; teenagers often see it as beneath them until they're actually doing it. Bring a towel and a dry change of clothes - you will get soaked, no question about it.

Timing-wise, aim for calm days when the sea isn't too choppy; rough swells make the whole thing feel genuinely risky rather than fun. Summer holidays are rammed, so an off-season visit in May or September means shorter queues and warmer air temperature if not warmer water.

If you're based at Wooda Farm Holiday Park or Atlantic Surf Pods, you're just minutes away. Even Pencuke Farm's a short drive. It's the sort of thing you'd do for an afternoon, not all day - an hour or two is plenty. Bude itself has proper beaches for serious swimmers and surfers, so slot this in as a quick hit alongside the real water activities. Worth going? If you've got kids who like thrills, absolutely. Adults travelling alone would find it a bit daft.