Sunshine Farm

Right on the doorstep of Burnham-on-Sea, Sunshine Farm is a proper working zoo that's saved us from a rainy afternoon more than once. It's the sort of place where you can get genuinely close to the animals - alpacas, llamas, goats and various birds wander about in relatively open enclosures rather than being locked behind reinforced glass. The farm side means kids can actually interact with some of them, which beats watching from a distance.

It won't keep you occupied for five hours. Three, maybe four if you're moving slowly or the weather's decent enough to linger. What it does is give families staying at the surrounding caravan parks - Unity Beach, Beachside, Dolphin, Sandy Glade and the rest of the cluster along this stretch - a solid rainy-day option that doesn't feel like a second-rate compromise. The setting's fairly basic, admittedly. Expect muddy paths when wet, sparse shelter, and facilities that are functional rather than fancy.

The real value's having something genuinely different within walking distance if you're based at one of the holiday parks. Better still if you've got young children who'll spend twenty minutes feeding goats and consider that time well spent. Older kids and serious zoo enthusiasts might find it a bit limited in scope, but for a casual family visit it's worth the trip. Check ahead for opening times and admission prices - details online are thin on the ground.