A white Christmas is guaranteed at Diggerland in Kent, where Britain's first outdoor Snow Park opens today. The main slope, Mount Digger, is 165ft long and 65ft wide, divided into areas for skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing (sitting in an inner tube and hurtling down the slope). Smaller children can build snowmen, throw snowballs or toboggan in a special play area.

The Snow Park @Diggerland, Medway Valley Leisure Park, Strood, Kent (0870 034 4437, www.thesnowpark.co.uk). Open daily 10am-10pm from December 13, except Christmas Day or in rainy conditions; entry �2.50, children under two free. Tubing and skiing (for the over-fives) from �1 a go, ski lesson �18/hour, equipment hire about �8 a day.