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With temperatures soaring☺ we’ve compiled a list of places to cool off and take a dip!
St Albans Splash Park
We took a visit to St Albans Splash Park a few years ago and had a brilliant day. It wasn’t warm ☺ but the kids happily stripped off and ran around getting soaked by the water jets. The play park is enclosed with soft flooring so very safe plus it’s FREE! It’s in a great location and would be perfect for a family day out (with a picnic ☺) as there are lots of fun things close by including the Roman Museum, crazy golf, tennis, children’s playground and the lake.
There are toilets at The Inn on the Park, which is opposite the Splash Park. I went in to grab a coffee and it looked really nice so worth considering for lunch if you don’t fancy a picnic.
We had lunch at The Waffle House, which was located next to the park– the kids loved it!
The Splash Park is open all week and there are 4 bookable 1 hour 45 minute sessions available each day.
Website: click here.
Frensham Great Pond
Facilities open but follow the rules for your safety and check the water quality before taking a dip.
A friend of ours told us about Frensham Great Pond, a huge sandy lake with a small buoyed-off swimming area up to 1.5m deep and 50m wide. It is part of Frensham Common, a 1,000 acre area south of Farnham, which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). While the Great Pond is popular with people enjoying swimming, sunbathing, fishing and sailing, the common is a quiet wildlife retreat and Frensham Little Pond is reserved as a haven for the wildlife who live there.
Whether you want to relax on the sand or take a tranquil stroll and discover the wildlife, Frensham Common and Ponds is a fun day out. Please note that Frensham Great Pond is very popular in nice weather and the car park is usually full by 10am so please arrive early to avoid disappointment.
Frensham Ponds and Common are situated between Farnham and Hindhead on either side of the A287. The address for the main car park is: Bacon Lane, Churt, Surrey GU10 2QB. Please note that payment is via RingGo only.
Website: click here.
Liquid Leisure, Windsor
This is Europe’s Largest Aqua Park with water activities to suit everyone. Whether you want to try the floating assault course, Ringo rides and Banana boat fun or have a go on the Ninja Warrior UK Aqua Park, there’s plenty of activities on offer. To see our reader review click here.
Website: click here.
Splash ‘n’ Play at Willen Lake
Enjoy a fun filled day at Splash ‘n’ Play in Milton Keynes (one of the UK’s largest outdoor splash parks) with over 60 unique water features. The park is suitable for children aged from 0 – 13 years with sessions running through the school holidays and weekends between April and September. Sessions must be booked in advance, sessions run for 45 minutes and cost £5 per child, accompanying adults go free.
Website: click here.
Cotswolds Country Park & Beach
A few years ago we went to the Cotswolds for a week and during our stay we went along to the Cotswold Country Park & Beach. It has the largest inland beach in the UK, boat and kayak hire, bouncy castles, crazy golf, a climbing wall, adventure playgrounds, open water swimming, cafes, wonderful lakeside walks, and much, much more. This is a fantastic day out and offers excellent value for money as under 3’s are free. It takes about 1 hour 30 mins from Chalfont St Giles but it really is worth a day trip. The park is open every day, online booking is recommended and admission must be booked before activities.
Website: click here.
Legoland Splash Safari
Legoland has a splash area where children can safely splash around amongst a menagerie of DUPLO themed animal friends – from lions and giraffes, to zebras and elephants and a range of interactive water features. Make sure you pack the kids swimsuits, as children are not allowed in without their swimmers (we learnt the hard way by forgetting them once!) They do sell swimsuits but you’ll paying a premium! For more tips on visiting Legoland click here.
Website: click here.
Chesham Heated Open Air Pool
Included in Sian Goodspeed’s Special Places, Chesham Heated Open Air Pool has plenty of sessions such as adults only, lanes, general swim and inflatables, so there is something to suit everyone.
Website: click here.
Ruislip Lido
Ruislip Lido, a 60-acre lake with sandy beaches and a narrow gauge railway around it, is set on the edge of Ruislip woods. Please note that the beach at Ruislip Lido is open, but swimming is not permitted.
Website: click here.
Cassiobury Park Paddling Pools, Watford
The thrilling water splash fountains are suitable for kids of all ages and abilities and accessible for everyone. The water play park has 30 state of the art splash pads, water jets and fountains plus the changing rooms and toilets are all new too. There’s also a new Daisy’s in the Park Cafe
To book a space, you need to an Everyone Active account. Follow the steps in the ‘how to book guide‘.
Website: click here.
Wycombe Rye Lido
Wycombe Rye Lido has been fully refurbished with heated pools (April to October). There is plenty of parking and a park next door where you can look at the birds in the dyke, go to the play area or simply wonder around and have a well deserved ice-cream. All activities are bookable online only
Website: click here.
Leighton Buzzard Splash Park
The facility is FREE and very well attended throughout the summer, alongside the beach and the play area it is a great location for a low cost fun family day out. The Splash and Play is usually open from late May to September each year. The Splash ‘n; Play is open in summer months between 10am – 5pm.
Website: click here.
