Benhall playpark

Tucked on the edge of some decent woodland, this Cheltenham spot punches above its weight for families with younger kids. The play area covers the basics well — slides, swings, a tire swing, merry-go-round, climbing frame — but honestly the stream is the real draw in summer, because no child is walking past that without getting wet. There’s a graffiti mural under the bridge that’s worth a look, and the trails into the trees give parents somewhere to actually go rather than just standing around watching. Fair warning though: come autumn and winter, it gets properly muddy, so pack accordingly. Dogs love it here too, with the open field and woodland paths giving them plenty to explore while the kids do their thing.