Where are the best swimming pools in the UK not to go swimming?

September 19, 2005 2:26 AM

Whereabouts in the UK are the best swimming pools ... where you don't actually swim?

At the weekend we decided to forgo the usual big-tank-of-water swimming pool in search of one that had slides (flumes), jacuzzi's, sloping beach, wave machine, rapids and those sort of fun things.

Unfortunately, we ended up in at one in Deptford which, amongst other things:

- Had two (relatively boring) flumes which only opened for a total of 15 minutes out of a 90 minute session
- Had very short wave machine sessions
- Had a broken Jacuzzi
- Had a non-existent diving board
- Was reasonably shallow

and in general wasn't that great. Given that I'm used to going to places like Bedford which has all of the above including quite a funky outdoor section and rapids (that you get pushed along by the water), my question is simple:

Do you know of any good swimming pools in the UK (bonus points for close to London) which have a great selection of flumes, jacuzzi's, rapids and other such stuff and that doesn't cost a small fortune to visit for a session?

posted by ralawrence to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (8 answers total)

Coral Reef in Bracknell, Berkshire;

Guildford Spectrum in Surrey;

Cariba Creek at Alton Towers in Staffordshire is fancy but expensive.
posted by skylar at 2:53 AM on September 19, 2005

The swimming pool at Center Parks in Sherwood Forest is awesome: flumes, rapids, slow rivers, jacuzzis, heated walls, outdoor pools, Plus a bunch of other leisure activies, of course.
posted by pollystark at 3:05 AM on September 19, 2005

Most Center Parcs (note peculiar spelling if Googling) sites are good, not just the one pollystark mentioned. They are pricey however and you cannot go for just one day (except as a guest of someone staying there).
posted by edd at 3:18 AM on September 19, 2005

Splashdown in Poole, Dorset was great when I went, several years ago
posted by ajbattrick at 4:23 AM on September 19, 2005

WaterWorld is great for things like that, however it's really popular and in Stoke-on-Trent.
I suppose not many places can claim the last two things.
posted by NinjaPirate at 5:09 AM on September 19, 2005

Alton Towers is very good, but not worth it unless you're going to the park.

The best ones I've been to are WaterWorld and Wet 'n Wild (near Newcastle), neither of which are too close to London!
It's been a few years since I've been to either of them though.
posted by OldMansHands at 5:27 AM on September 19, 2005

There was one somewhere near Ealing that I used to go to about ... 15 years ago ... Used to get of the tube and get there after a fairly short walk. Can't remember anything else about it though I'm afraid.
posted by singingfish at 5:48 AM on September 19, 2005

Aquasplash in Hemel Hempstead - they don't seem to have their own site but the phone number is 01442 292203. They've got loads of different flumes, things involving inflatable things etc. A favourite for North London children's birthday parties!
posted by Lotto at 6:06 AM on September 19, 2005