Cotswold Water Park, Lake 31 Keynes Country Park

Keynes Country Park is one of the most family-friendly corners of the Cotswold Water Park, a network of lakes near South Cerney created from former gravel pits. It has a popular lakeside beach with sand and a shallow supervised swimming area in the main season, lawns for picnics and sunbathing, and an adventure play area, so on a warm day it works as a budget seaside trip without the long drive.

Around the lake there are easy, flat walking and cycling trails, a nature reserve with wildlife to spot, and watersports and equipment hire that are charged separately. The wider Water Park has miles of buggy and bike-friendly paths linking lakes and villages, so you can make as little or as much of the day as you like. It gets busy on hot weekends.

It suits all ages, with toddlers happy on the beach and in the shallow water and older children enjoying the play area, trails and watersports. Pack for the beach in summer and arrive early for parking.

Good for: outdoors, water, sensory, sporty. Ages: 0–2, 3–4, 5–7, 8–11, 12+.