There's a village in Wiltshire which is packed to the rafters with family fun! Mervyn Hancock discovers how you can spend a day at Center Parcs in Longleat Forest

For tens of thousands of people, a holiday at Center Parcs has become an annual ritual – ignoring airport queues, fluctuating currency and the British weather. For whether it rains, shines, snows or blows, many of the activities in the holiday village, set among the trees in Lord Bath's Longleat Forest, are under cover and protected from the elements.

But the delights to be found inside the complex have been a bit of a mystery to those people who haven't booked a week or weekend break, because few are aware that it is possible to spend a day in the village, with the family, and have access to all the same activities and restaurants as guests.

The idea is that you choose your day, visit your local Tourist Information Centre, and they will book the day out on your behalf and issue you with a confirmation form which you simply show at the gate.

Because Mondays and Fridays are changeover days, and the village is very busy, these are the only times you are not permitted as a day visitor, but for the rest of the year you are able to join in all the fun.

It doesn't come for free, though. Adults pay £20, children (aged 4-13) £14, under-fours are not charged, and there is a family pass (two adults and two children) for £60. The fabulous indoor pool, with its wave machine and fun shoots which take you outside, through the forest, in heated water, comes as part of the package, but you do have to pay the same price as resident guests for the other activities.

But there are more than 100 to choose from – far more than you need to entertain family members of all ages, whatever the time of the year, and whatever Mother Nature is throwing at the people outside.

Roller blading, roller skating, climbing, badminton, snooker, squash, ten pin bowling, tennis and a host of other things are under cover and protected from the elements, while others are under a huge dome, which provides a balmy atmosphere as you walk around the leafy paths, pass the indoor ponds, and maybe get tempted by the shops, bars and restaurants.

Those "leafy paths" actually contain more than £1 million of exotic and native trees.

If you are an outdoor person then try the Action Challenge, which has a climbing tower, abseiling, high ropes, 3G swing and breathtaking zip wire. You can also try your hand at Tree Trekking, archery and mountain bikes, or even watch the skills of the birds of prey.

You don't have to spend anything extra if you stick to the fabulous Subtropical Swimming Paradise – most resident guests head for the pool as soon as it opens and stay there all day.

Longleat Forest Village is set in 400 acres of the Wiltshire countryside, and is just a stone's throw from the famous lions of Longleat Safari park.

In the summer months you can visit the man-made beach or enjoy a row on the lake.

It also has a wonderful Aqua Sauna area, fashioned on the Roman Baths, with steam rooms, treatment centres and trained staff to pamper you.

Center Parcs does enjoy a very high residency throughout the year, so the numbers of day passes are regulated, which means you do need to book well in advance. But once you have your ticket you can arrive in the morning and leave late in the evening, and the food and drink prices compare favourable with those outside the village. There's a variety of fare on offer, ranging from burgers to Indian dishes, a Sunday carvery and a brand new eatery created by celebrity chef Aldo Zilli.

The Center Parcs Longleat Village is situated between Warminster and Frome. On-village charges include abseiling £20, badminton £7.50 per court, 10-pin bowling £20 per lane, snooker £6.50 per table. Cycles are available for hire.