Known for its gloomy weather, the UK’s water park offering is sparse. Outdoor water parks can only operate for a few months of the year, so the majority here are indoor attractions. Still, operators and suppliers can adapt even the largest water rides for inside environments. Parks can achieve this through creative design and new technology developed by ride designers, says Ray Smegal, chief commercial officer at ProSlide.
“The technology already exists, and the limitations are beginning to become a nonissue,” adds Steve Rhys, who has now retired as the executive vice president of FORREC.
“The challenge is always going to be the cost of indoor space. Clever ways include layering rides and effectively pushing most of the structure of inherently large rides outdoors.”
We explore the wave pools, flume rides, waterslides, lazy rivers and splash zones at the top UK water parks, in no particular order. These are located across the country, in areas such as Devon, Dorset, the Midlands, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Wales.
1 Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
Sandcastle Waterpark, part of the Merlin Entertainments family, is the UK’s largest indoor water park. It opened in 1986 and houses more than 18 slides and attractions in a tropical climate. These include thrilling ‘white knuckle’ slides, pools, a wave machine, and water play structures for younger guests.
“The Sandcastle Waterpark is one of the council’s big success stories,” said Blackpool Council leader Lynn Williams. “Over the years, it has received significant investment to enable it to retain and grow its immense popularity with visitors and residents alike.” The water park is “viewed as an exemplar attraction in terms of its accessibility for people with a disability”, said Williams.
Families and younger guests can enjoy the Typhoon Lagoon wave pool, Treetops Water Chutes, Caribbean Storm Treehouse, Ushi Gushi River Creek ‘action river’, HMS Thundersplash play area and Fort Riptide slides. The park’s five thrilling slides are Master Blaster, Sidewinder, Montazooma, Aztec Falls and Duelling Dragons.
Merlin serves as the managing agent for the council-owned water park, overseeing daily operations. “With eight top attractions already in Blackpool, we’re excited to put on our armbands and add a ninth to our guest offering,” said Kate Shane, regional director for Merlin Entertainments. “We firmly support Blackpool’s ambition to be the UK’s number one family seaside resort and this partnership is another step forward in delivering this vision.”
2 Alton Towers Waterpark, Stoke-on-Trent
Alton Towers Waterpark is, as the name suggests, a water park at Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire. Its attractions include lazy rivers, the Master Blaster water coaster, interactive play areas, and high-speed waterslides such as Rush ‘N’ Rampage. During the summer months, guests can enjoy the outdoor Bubbly Wubbly pool and Flash Floods flume ride.
Additional attractions on offer include the Wacky Waterworks Treehouse, which has more than 70 interactive water features for children. The Tipping Bucket drenches guests in more than 1,000 litres of water, and Little Leak is a shallow pool for the youngest visitors. The water park opened in 2003.
Alton Towers, also operated by Merlin Entertainments, is the largest theme park in the UK, boasting 10 themed areas across 910 acres. As well as the theme park and water park, the resort includes three themed hotels. Another Merlin attraction, Chessington World of Adventures Resort has submitted plans for a “unique and immersive water park experience”.
3 Waterworld, Stoke-on-Trent
Billed as the UK’s top tropical-themed indoor water park, Waterworld Aqua Park can be found at the Waterworld Leisure Resort in Stoke-on-Trent. Opened back in 1989, Waterworld is home to more than 30 rides and attractions, including Thunderbolt, the UK’s first trapdoor drop waterslide. This is part of the new Tornado Alley zone, which also features the tallest and fastest waterslides in the UK.
Pools include Rapids and Lily Pads, as well as a wave pool and bubble pools. For children, attractions include the interactive Jungle House, and slides for toddlers. In the summer months, guests can relax in the outdoor pool. As well as the water park, Waterworld Leisure Resort features tiki-themed mini-golf and a spa and fitness facility.
4 Splashdown Poole, Dorset
Splashdown Poole in Dorset is located at the Tower Park complex and opened in 1990. The water park boasts 13 thrilling indoor and outdoor flume rides and three splash zones for children. Ricky’s Reef is a toddler pool, Buccaneer Splash an interactive water play area, and Buccaneer Beach an outdoor splash pool for warmer seasons.
The park’s most thrilling attractions are Infinity, Zambezi Drop, Dragon’s Lair, The Screamer, Velocity and Baron’s Revenge.
5 Splashdown Quaywest, Paignton
Opened in 1988, Splashdown Quaywest is the UK’s largest outdoor water park. Located near Paignton in Devon, the venue boasts twisting tyre rides and slippery waterslides. Its most thrilling waterslides are Devil’s Drop, The Screamer and Wild Kamikaze.
Also on offer at the park are the Sidewinder, Corkscrew and Wet and Wild mat rides, as well as the Raging Rapids and Surf Lagoon tyre rides. Blennies Tiddler Pool is a splash pool for toddlers.
6 The Wave, Coventry
Launched in 2019 in Coventry, The Wave is one of the UK’s largest indoor water parks and one of its newest. Operated by CV Life, the Wave features six epic waterslides – The Cascade, The Crestar, The Rapids, The Riptide, The Torrent, and The Cyclone.
The attraction also includes the UK’s largest wave pool, which churns 20 million litres of water every day, as well as a lazy river, and a beach café. The Reef is a large splash pad for younger guests with jets, sprays and slides.
7 Calypso Cove, Barnsley
Found in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Calypso Cove is a water park with slides, flumes, splash pools and a pirate-themed play zone. It also offers The Hideout, a poolside café. Terror Torrent is one of the UK’s fastest indoor flumes, while Splash Ahoy is an open slide with four lanes. Visitors can choose their own music during a ride on the Kraken waterslide.
Highlights include the Sunken Galleon pool, the Walk The Plank boards, and the Eruption waterslide. Calypso Cove is located in the Metrodome Leisure Complex, which opened in 1989.
8 Alpamare, Scarborough
Alpamare in Scarborough, North Yorkshire includes state-of-the-art waterslides, giant wave pools, family-friendly splash and play areas, and an alpine-style wellness spa. Waterslides on offer at this water park, which opened in 2016, are Snow Storm, Black Run, Olympic Run and the Cresta Run mat racer.
The water park’s wave pool erupts every 30 minutes, and guests can also enjoy a warm outdoor garden pool and outdoor infinity pool. The wellness spa is home to steam and sauna baths and bubble jet pools.
9 LC Swansea, Wales
The LC Swansea boasts the largest water park in Wales. The attraction has a wave pool, lazy river, flume rides and thrilling waterslides. It also includes the Boardrider indoor surf simulator. Younger guests can play and slide in the interactive Volcano Bay zone. In addition, the LC Swansea features a four-storey aquatic-themed interactive play area.
The leisure centre can be found in the city centre of Swansea. It debuted in 1977 and reopened in 2008 following a £32 million makeover.
