1 Putting a little extra bounce into the Easter holidays is never a problem in Swindon thanks to the Link Centre. Or, if the large trampoline park with an assortment of fun features doesn’t appeal, other family activities include a large and well-maintained ice rink and a variety of swimming sessions and lessons tailored for people of all abilities. Full details cab be found at www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/swindon/the-link-centre/activities

2 When it comes to school holiday fun, The Oasis Leisure at North Star has been a school holiday favourite – and a favourite all the year round, for that matter – since it opened in the 1970s. This is largely thanks to the impressive pools which were a state of the art tourist attraction all those years ago and are still a major draw. There is a large main pool and a smaller one, and the former boasts a lagoon, a wave machine, a water cannon and slides. Details including booking information are available at www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/swindon/oasis-leisure-centre-swindon

3 The Roves Farm Visitor Centre at Sevenhampton can always be relied on to offer something special for Easter. Its philosophy is one of combining fun and wonder with encouraging respect for the countryside and the flora and fauna it supports. This year’s Easter Trail promises the chance for visitors to explore the animal paddocks and woodland on their way to meet the Easter Bunny. Pets Corner has plenty of baby animals for young people to meet. Booking information and other details can be obtained by calling 01793 763939 or visiting rovesfarm.co.uk

4 The new exhibition at Steam, Swindon’s museum of the Great Western Railway, opens on Saturday and is called World’s Fastest. It celebrates the proud achievement of the Swindon-built City of Truro locomotive, which in 1904 became the first to travel at 100mph. Information about opening times and admission charges is available at www.steam-museum.org.uk

5 Butterfly World and Farm Park, at Studley Grange in Wroughton, has long been a popular destination for families, whatever the time of year. Visitors to Butterfly World enter a carefully-created warm habitat which is home to some of the most beautiful creatures in the world. Other Studley Grange attractions include a popular indoor soft playground and a craft village. www.studleygrange.co.uk

6 Swindon and Cricklade Railway is a Standard Gauge heritage railway, making it the only one in Wiltshire whose visitors have the chance to experience railway travel as it was once known daily during the industry’s golden age. Its website is swindon-cricklade-railway.org

7 ATBShop Skate Warehouse in Newcombe Drive is the only indoor skate park in Swindon It has a café where parents who do not relish the idea of taking to the ramps with boards and scooters can relax while their children have fun. The shop area has the latest equipment, including an extensive stock of safety gear, and staff are always on hand to offer advice. Full details of facilities, safety policies and prices are available at www.atbshop.co.uk

8 Sometimes the best visitor attractions are the ones which offer little beyond the sheer beauty of nature or the endless fascination of historic places. Barbury Castle, atop a hill outside Wroughton, offers both. It is a beautiful and rugged part of the Wiltshire landscape, a place which was inhabited by people long before the Romans thought to invade Britain.

9 As with Barbury Castle, Savernake Forest – the enormous green jewel near Marlborough – should be on the to-do list of any family looking for a place in which to shrug off the distractions of 21st century life and connect with all that is ancient. Its most famous tree, the Big Belly Oak, was already well-established at the time of the Norman Conquest.

10 Lydiard Park is arguably the finest historic location under the umbrella of Swindon Borough Council. Its beautiful grounds, especially the wooded areas, are ideal for meandering walks, and there is a children’s centre and café. Aside from the natural beauties of the estate, which was purchased for the people of Swindon more than 75 years ago, visitors can explore the Palladian mansion which is filled with art treasures and exquisite furnishings. See www.lydiardpark.org.uk