Shrewsbury Indoor Bowls Centre

You won't find dramatic views or Instagram moments at Shrewsbury Indoor Bowls Centre, but if you're after a proper afternoon activity during a wet Shropshire break, it's worth knowing about. This is straightforward indoor bowls - roll the biased woods down the carpet, try to get them closest to the jack, and don't overthink it.

The appeal isn't complicated. It's one of those activities that sounds stuffy until you actually try it, then you realise why people get genuinely competitive about it. The staff tend to be helpful if you've never bowled before, and it's accessible enough for kids and grandparents in the same session - no fitness required, just a bit of concentration. You can usually book a lane for an hour or so, and the cost is modest, though you should ring ahead to check current prices and availability.

Within Shrewsbury itself, you're well-positioned for a larger holiday. The town centre is close by, and if the weather turns properly nasty, this beats sitting in a caravan. Families camped at Ebury Hill or Beaconsfield - both just a couple of miles away - have used it on drizzly afternoons and come away surprised at how entertaining it was. It's not a destination in itself, but as part of a week in the area, it fills a gap when the rain sets in. Allow an hour or ninety minutes maximum. Rain is actually when you'll find the most available lanes.