Splashdown Quaywest

Water shoots out at alarming speed as you hurtle down what feels like a vertical drop into Torbay's chilly embrace. Splashdown Quaywest sits right on Paignton's seafront, claiming the title of Europe's steepest water chute - and frankly, after experiencing that stomach-lurching moment when gravity takes over, I'm inclined to believe them.

This isn't your typical leisure centre flume. The main attraction launches you down a 120-foot near-vertical slide that ends with a proper splash into the sea below. Teenagers absolutely love the adrenaline rush, though younger kids might find it genuinely terrifying. There are gentler slides for families, plus the usual indoor pool facilities when Devon's weather turns.

Location-wise, it's brilliant for anyone staying at nearby parks like Hoburne Devon Bay or Waterside Holiday Park - both are barely a ten-minute walk away. The outdoor slides only operate in warmer months, which is probably wise given how bracing that seawater can be even in summer.

Expect to pay theme park prices for what's essentially a few slides, but the unique seaside setting does make it special. An hour or two is plenty unless your kids are proper water babies. Worth combining with a stroll along Paignton pier afterwards to justify the admission fee.