Splat N Splodge

The name alone tells you what to expect at Splat N Splodge - this is messy, hands-on art for people who aren't afraid of getting paint under their fingernails. Based just outside Shrewsbury, it's an arts centre where the emphasis is firmly on doing rather than looking. You'll find yourself covered in paint, glue, and whatever else gets thrown at you during a session, which is precisely the point.

Kids absolutely thrive here. The place is geared entirely towards getting young hands creative without worrying about the consequences - the kind of spot where your six-year-old can finally use that giant brush without you having a mild panic attack about the sofa. Adults who remember actually enjoying art lessons will find something genuinely fun about the space too.

It's the sort of place to visit on a rainy Shropshire afternoon when cabin fever is setting in at the caravan. Give yourself a couple of hours minimum; kids will want to stay longer. Bring clothes you don't mind ruining - seriously, they will be ruined. Check opening times and admission costs before you go, as details aren't widely published online.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Beaconsfield, Ebury Hill, or Sunnyside Farm are all within a few miles - this makes a cracking rainy-day option. It's close enough to Shrewsbury town centre if you want to combine it with shopping or lunch, but far enough out that you're not dealing with town crowds.