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

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

ralawrence — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 02:26:25 -0800

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?

By: skylar

skylar — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 02:53:11 -0800

Coral Reef in Bracknell, Berkshire;

Guildford Spectrum in Surrey;

Cariba Creek at Alton Towers in Staffordshire is fancy but expensive.

By: pollystark

pollystark — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 03:05:43 -0800

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.

By: edd

edd — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 03:18:45 -0800

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).

By: ajbattrick

ajbattrick — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 04:23:52 -0800

Splashdown in Poole, Dorset was great when I went, several years ago

By: NinjaPirate

NinjaPirate — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 05:09:54 -0800

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.

By: OldMansHands

OldMansHands — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 05:27:23 -0800

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.

By: singingfish

singingfish — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 05:48:52 -0800

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.

By: Lotto

Lotto — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 06:06:30 -0800

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!