Best UK waterparks: Top 7 indoor and outdoor waterparks to try in 2024

Although summer has seemingly snuck up on us — not that we’re complaining after the drizzly April! — we’re conscious that the UK weather isn’t always blue skies and sunshine, even in the warmer months. That’s why we’ve selected indoor and outdoor waterparks in our guide below. Don’t worry, though, whether you’re under cover or embracing the sunny skies outside, there is no lack of things to explore and enjoy.

From entry to exit, the MadeForMums team are determined to ensure you and your family have an enjoyable and safe day, so there are a few things to keep in mind.

Keep hydrated. Swimming is thirsty work, especially if you’re outside. Although a lot of UK waterparks have vending machines dotted around the premise, it’s a good idea to pack water bottles for you and your children.

Stay sun safe. At outdoor waterparks, it’s likely that your children will be in and out of the pool (returning to you only to ask for snacks, we imagine), so it might be a good idea to bring a T-shirt for them so their shoulders don’t burn. Plus, sun cream, sunhats, and sunglasses never go amiss for bright days, either.

Pack to your child’s swimming ability. For example, consider packing goggles and armbands for your kids. However, from confident swimmers to shallow end dwellers, waterparks have various features to cater to all swimming abilities.

So, without further ado, grab your swimming costume and towel, and let’s find a waterpark near you!

Best UK indoor and outdoor waterparks at a glance:

• Best for indoor activities: Alton Towers Waterpark
• Best for UK's largest waterpark: Sandcastle Waterpark
• Best for inflatable fun: Moorways Sports Village And Water Park
• Best for small children: Amity Beach
• Best for thrilling rides: Splashdown
• Best for adults with toddlers: Savannah Splash Pool
• Best for all-year-round fun: Waterworld

Best indoor and outdoor waterparks to visit in the UK

Alton Towers Waterpark, Stoke-on-Trent

Best for: Indoor activities

Tickets from £18 | Best for toddlers and over | Free parking with your waterpark ticket | Uttoxeter station is 10 miles away from the resort

Pros:

• You can purchase discounted tickets online
• Free parking with your waterpark ticket
• Plenty to do for toddlers

Cons:

• If travelling via public transport, the train station is a sizable distance away

It’s no exaggeration when we say the Stoke-on-Trent theme park has something for every member of the family. For fearless teenagers, there’s daring rides such as The Smiler with 14 loops, Oblivion with its vertical drop (which is only spoken about in fear-stricken whispers), and Wicker Man with its realistic flame effects.

For younger children, there are rides such as the In The Night Garden Magical Boat Ride, as well as themed areas like The World of David Walliams, which is inspired by David Walliams' books, Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, just to name a few. If you have young children, we’re sure you’ve already heard of CBeebies Land, which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year. CBeebies Land has attractions such as Hey Duggee's Big Adventure Badge and Andy's Adventures Dinosaur Dig. Plus, did you know you can currently meet Bluey at CBeebies Land?

If this wasn’t enough to warrant a trip to Alton Towers, the theme park also has an indoor and outdoor waterpark.

In the indoor Alton Towers Waterpark, you’ll find lazy rivers, crazy cannons, interactive play areas which are great for smaller children, and high-speed water slides such as the Master Blaster water coaster which will test even the most fearless of older children’s nerves.

If the weather is warm enough during your day out, head outside to swim underneath the sun, chill out in the Bubbly Wubbly pool while your kids are playing, and experience the thrilling Flash Floods flume ride.

It’s worth noting that Alton Towers Waterpark operates a strict adult-to-child ratio for all children under the age of eight: one adult (aged 16 or over) to one child aged four or under; or one adult (aged 16 or over) to two children aged five, six, or seven.

Buy Alton Towers Waterpark tickets from £18 at Alton Towers

If you'd like to visit the theme park as well as the water park, Alton Towers is currently running a limited time offer where you can get a theme park ticket (usually £68 on the day) and a waterpark ticket (usually £25 on the day) for just £35 for both.

Buy a theme park and water park combination ticket for £93 £35 (save £58 or 63%) at Alton Towers

Our friends at RadioTimes.com have put together a guide on how to get cheap Alton Towers tickets.

Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool

Best for: UK’s largest waterpark

Tickets from £15 | Best for toddlers and over | Parking from £12 | Blackpool South station is a 12-minute walk from Sandcastle Waterpark

Pros:

• Ability to book online
• Train station is very close for those travelling via public transport
• Biggest waterpark on our list
• Accessible
• Spa for adults

Cons:

• All tickets are valid for up to three hours only
• Parking isn’t free

Sandcastle Waterpark has everything you’d expect from the UK’s largest waterpark. For plucky older kids, there’s the Master Blaster (the world’s longest indoor roller coaster waterslide), Aztec Falls, Sidewinder (the world’s first indoor white knuckle sidewinder, with an almost vertical drop), and more. For younger waterpark-goers, there’s the Typhoon Lagoon wave pool, Treetops water chutes, Caribbean Storm Treehouse, and Fort Riptide, just to name a few.

We love that Sandcastle Waterpark has the Sea Breeze Spa, a spa for adults. In the Sea Breeze Spa, there’s a sauna, steam room, aromatherapy room, salt inhalation room, as well as heated loungers and foot spas.

Another fantastic element that Sandcastle Waterpark certainly leads the way with is that the Blackpool waterpark is accessible for all guests. The waterpark is barrier-free and step-free, it has exacted measures for people with mobility impairments, and has features such as an autism-friendly Quiet Room. Sandcastle Waterpark has plenty of information about accessibility on the website, so be sure to read that before you travel.

With a waterpark as popular as this one, it won’t come as a surprise to you that Sandcastle Waterpark gets busy during school holidays and weekends. We recommend that families with small children visit the waterpark first thing in the morning or towards the end of the day, or during out-of-season periods, for example, if you’re able to go mid-week.

Also, session times are a permanent instalment at Sandcastle Waterpark, admitting you to a three-hour session. It’s important that you book online in advance to secure your family’s slot.

Buy Sandcastle Waterpark tickets from £15 at Sandcastle Waterpark

If you're looking to visit a theme park with your family, be sure to read our best UK theme parks guide.

Plus, here's how to get cheap LEGOLAND Windsor tickets.

Moorways Sports Village And Water Park, Derby

Best for: Inflatable fun

Tickets from £9.95 | Best for ages 5+ | Free parking for up to 3 hours | Peartree station is a 15-minute walk from Moorways

Pros:

• Under fives and carers go free
• Free parking
• Accessible sessions for those with special education needs and disabilities
• Inexpensive.

Cons:

• Fairly small leisure pool

One of our favourite memories as a child was taking part in the inflatable assault course at our local leisure centre — racing against our siblings to see who can make it to the end of the track and whizz down the slide first! At Moorways Sports Village And Water Park in Derby, the waterpark has The Atlantis inflatable located in the Main Pool on Saturdays and Sundays, then between Monday to Friday in Derby school holidays.

As well as The Atlantis, there’s a 50-metre swimming pool and leisure pool. It’s in this leisure pool that the waterpark is. The indoor waterpark has three flumes and slides, as well as a Wow Ball (a feature which creates waves).

Like Sandcastle Waterpark, Moorways Sports Village And Water Park offers exclusive sessions such as SEND sessions (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), which includes large separate group changes, increased time in changing area before the session, Ear Defenders usage, wristbands not necessary, and free carers admission, and Autism Friendly sessions, which includes reduced music levels, reduced capacity, large separate group changes, wristbands not necessary, increased time in changing area before the session, Ear Defenders usage, and free carers admission.

The MadeForMums team also love that the site offers a 360-degree view of the pool so you can check it out before you visit, as sometimes photos on a website just aren’t enough!

Buy Moorways Sports Village And Water Park tickets from £9.95 at Everyone Active

Take a look at our Family Life section for more days out ideas.

Amity Beach at Thorpe Park, Surrey

Best for: Small children

Tickets from £25 | Best for toddlers and over | Parking from £10 | Staines station is 3 miles away from Thorpe Park

Pros:

• Great for toddlers
• A relaxing haven away from the main theme park
• Under threes go free

Cons:

• Small in comparison to the other waterparks
• Limited opening dates

Alongside Alton Towers, Thorpe Park is one of the big names in the theme park world. Located in the middle of Chertsey and Staines-upon-Thames in Surrey, just one hour’s drive from London, Thorpe Park has an impressive rides repertoire; the theme park has over 30 heart-pumping rides, such as Stealth, Colossus, Nemesis Inferno, and the Swarm.

For younger children, Thorpe Park has the equally as exciting Flying Fish junior coaster and Angry Birds 4D Experience. There are also water rides at Thorpe Park (separate to the actual waterpark) such as Tidal Wave, Storm Surge and Rumba Rapids.

But how does the actual waterpark fare?

If you’re looking for a relaxing and quiet spot away from the hustle and bustle of Thorpe Park, Amity Beach is a prime location. Best suited to young children, Amity Beach offers a place to paddle and play in the sand, as well as having plenty of loungers for (probably worn-out) parents.

It’s worth noting that Amity Beach is only open on selected dates, so we’d recommend checking the website or booking online in advance before showing up, and availability may change depending on the weather. Plus, and this perhaps goes without saying, children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

In terms of accessibility, manual wheelchairs are permitted, however, electric wheelchairs are not permitted in wet areas. There is step-free access, and Amity Beach is appropriate for those with sensory needs.

Buy Amity Beach tickets from £25 at Thorpe Park

Our friends at RadioTimes.com have put together a guide on how to get cheap Thorpe Park tickets to help you save those all-important pennies.

Splashdown, Poole

Best for: Thrilling rides

Tickets from £18 | Best for ages 6+ | Free parking | Tower Park is a seven-minute walk away, Henbury Close is a 12-minute walk away

Pros:

• Plenty to do for all ages
• Free car parking
• Adventurous rides for older children
• Indoor and outdoor activities

Cons:

• Expensive

Splashdown in Poole is home to a massive 13 thrilling indoor and outdoor rides for children over 1-metre (1.2-metres for Infinity), as well as three under-aged-five splash zones.

Some examples of the attractions include Infinity: a ride that starts in the dark and plunges you into a drop, there are laser lights that dance to the music as you ride, and you can even choose which tunes play.

There’s The Screamer which is perfect for those seeking adrenaline — slide 40-metres in under five seconds with this high-speed water ride.

For more relaxed attractions, there’s the Mississippi Drifter, where you and your family can glide and twist through slides and whirlpools in a single inflatable tyre. Plus, when the whole family is tired out from all the pulse-racing attractions, you can relax at Buccaneer Beach and the Sun Terraces, then head to Captain's Cove for the bubble bench and jacuzzi.

Splashdown has plenty for children aged eight and under, too, such as Ricky's Reef toddler pool, Buccaneer Splash, and Buccaneer Beach.

It’s worth noting there’s another splashdown in Paignton.

Plus, you might’ve noticed in our ‘Cons’ section, we said that Splashdown is expensive. To break the cost down for you, a two-hour waterpark admission costs £18 per person, a three-hour waterpark admission is £21, and spectators will have to pay £6.50 to enter the waterpark. Children under the age of one can come in for free.

Buy Splashdown tickets from £18 at Splashdown Waterparks

Are you and your family venturing to Disney this summer? Take a look at our Disney packing list for everything you should bring with you.

Savannah Splash Pool at Chessington World of Adventures, Chessington

Best for: Adults with toddlers

Free if you’re staying at Chessington World of Adventures Resort | Best for all ages | Parking from £15 | Chessington South Station is a 10-minute walk away

Pros:

• Free if you book a stay at Chessington World of Adventures
• Great for toddlers
• Relaxing environment

Cons:

• Not open to the public
• Not many attractions for older children

Located just one hour outside of London, in between Epsom and Weybridge, Chessington World of Adventures has plenty of attractions for the whole family, including 40 rollercoasters and water rides, a zoo with more than 1,000 animals, and shows, too.

If you’re familiar with Chessington, you’ve probably heard of the talked-about Vampire, Dragon’s Fury, and Rattlesnake rides, Tiger Rock and the Gruffalo River Ride Adventure log flumes, and the World of Jumanji, which is the park’s latest addition.

You can sleep over at Chessington World of Adventures in one of the six themed rooms at the Safari Hotel, and this is where the Savannah Splash Pool is.

More tame than the other waterparks in this guide, the Savannah Splash Pool is perfect for parents and toddlers who are looking to wind down after their Chessington World of Adventures experience.

The Savannah Splash Pool has a 15-metre swimming pool, a kids splash pool with jets and water canons, a steam room, spa pool, and a sauna; it’s the perfect oasis in the middle of the theme park.

As we mentioned, the Savannah Splash Pool is only open for Resort Hotel and Explorer Glamping guests, and be sure to book your slot online.

Get Savannah Splash Pool tickets for free at Chessington

Read the how to get cheap Chessington tickets guide from our friends at RadioTimes.com for top tips on how to secure lower priced tickets.

Waterworld, Stoke-on-Trent

Best for: All-year-round fun

Tickets from £24 | Best for toddlers and over | Free parking for under 30-minutes, then from £3 | 26-minute walk from Hanley bus and coach station

Pros:

• Open all year round
• Adventurous slides for older children
• Comes with a spa and fitness facility and an Adventure Mini Golf course

Cons:

• Expensive
• Children under two tickets cost £7

Not all UK waterparks are open all year round, but Waterworld at Stoke-on-Trent is! Waterworld Aqua Park is a fantastic day out for the whole family, and we say ‘day out’ because, with the number of attractions available, you can easily stay from morning until late afternoon.

Waterworld Aqua Park has over 30 different rides and attractions, including Thunderbolt, the UK’s first trap door drop waterslide, Hurricane, a ride with lighting effects and a 17-mph descend, The Python, with many twists and turns, Black Hole, which boasts Waterwold’s darkest downhill slide, and there are rapids, too.

As well as these indoor attractions, there’s also an outdoor pool, an Adventure Mini Golf with two 18-hole, mini golf courses, and brand-new spa and fitness facilities.

If you’re wondering what Waterworld has on offer for younger children, there is a baby and toddler area which includes a climbing frame, two flumes, tunnels, and rope swings, as well as three small rides and a children’s boat slide.

As we mentioned earlier, Waterworld in Stoke-on-Trent is quite pricey: it costs £24 per person, and children under two cost £7. Car parking is free for under 30-minutes, then it’s £3 for up to two hours 15-minutes, and £4.50 for up to eight hours.

Now, for some general housekeeping: all children under 11 years old must be accompanied by an adult; one adult can supervise two children under 11, providing the children can swim, and babies and toddlers must be supervised on a 'one adult to one child' basis.

Buy Waterworld tickets from £24 at Waterworld

Looking for more days out inspiration for you and your family? Our friends at RadioTimes.com have created a best UK family days out guide.

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