SEA LIFE Weymouth

The aquarium sits right on Weymouth's seafront, impossible to miss with its distinctive building. You're looking at tanks full of tropical fish, rays, seahorses and the sort of creatures kids actually want to see rather than reading about in a book. The walk-through tunnel where sharks glide overhead is the obvious highlight, though the touch pools where you can handle starfish and sea urchins tend to be where children lose an hour without complaint.

It's a solid rainy-day option or a half-day activity if you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Bowleaze Cove or Haven Weymouth Bay, both within walking distance. Families with young kids will get the most out of it, though teenagers might find it a bit small if they've been to larger aquariums. Allow two to three hours maximum.

Being right in Melcombe Regis means you can easily combine it with the beach itself, the seafront shops and cafes, or head inland to Lodmoor Country Park if the weather picks up. The location is genuinely convenient rather than a trek to some remote spot. Admission isn't free, so budget accordingly, but it's the sort of place where your kids will actually remember something about what they saw, which counts for something.