Discover the 9 Best Water Parks in the UK
Despite its reputation for dreary weather, the UK boasts a limited yet impressive selection of water parks. Most of the attractions highlighted here are indoors, as outdoor water parks typically operate for only a few months each year.
Operators and suppliers have the capability to adapt even the most expansive UK water parks for indoor settings. This is achievable through innovative design and cutting-edge technology developed by ride designers, according to Ray Smegal, chief commercial officer at ProSlide.
“The technology is already available. The limitations are starting to fade away,” adds Steve Rhys, a retired former executive vice president of FORREC.
“The challenge will always be the cost of indoor space. Creative solutions include layering rides and effectively extending most of the structure of inherently large rides outdoors.”
Recently, plans have been approved for Great Wolf Resorts’ first UK location in Oxfordshire. Additionally, Therme Manchester, a new £413 million, 28-acre water park and wellbeing resort, is anticipated to open in 2028.
We delve into the wave pools, flume rides, waterslides, lazy rivers, and splash zones at the top UK water parks, listed in alphabetical order. These attractions can be found across the nation in regions such as Devon, Dorset, the Midlands, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Wales.
1. Alpamare, Scarborough
Alpamare in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, features state-of-the-art waterslides, giant wave pools, and family-friendly splash and play areas, along with an alpine-style wellness spa. The water park is home to thrilling slides including Snow Storm, Black Run, Olympic Run, and the Cresta Run mat racer. The wave pool erupts every 30 minutes, and guests can also enjoy a warm garden pool and an outdoor infinity pool. The wellness spa offers steam and sauna baths and bubble jet pools. This attraction first opened in 2016, and Flamingo Land took over its operations in 2024.
2. Alton Towers Waterpark, Stoke-on-Trent
Alton Towers Waterpark is, as the name suggests, a water park at Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire. Opened in 2003, its attractions include lazy rivers, the Master Blaster water coaster, interactive play areas, and high-speed waterslides such as Rush ‘N’ Rampage. It also features the Wacky Waterworks Treehouse, which has over 70 interactive water features for children. The Tipping Bucket soaks visitors with over 1,000 litres of water, while younger guests can splash in the shallowest pool, Little Leak. During summer, visitors can enjoy the outdoor Bubbly Wubbly pool and Flash Floods flume ride. Alton Towers, operated by Merlin Entertainments, is the largest theme park in the UK, encompassing 10 themed areas across its 910-acre site.
3. Calypso Cove, Barnsley
Located in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Calypso Cove is situated within the Metrodome Leisure Complex, which opened in 1989. The water park features slides, flumes, splash pools, and a pirate-themed play zone, along with 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 the music during their ride on the Kraken waterslide. Showpieces include the Sunken Galleon pool, the Walk The Plank boards, and the Eruption waterslide.
4. LC Swansea, Wales
The LC Swansea boasts the largest water park in Wales. This attraction features a wave pool, lazy river, flume rides, and exciting waterslides, as well as the Boardrider indoor surf simulator. Younger guests can enjoy the interactive Volcano Bay zone, and the centre also includes a four-storey aquatic-themed interactive play area. Located in the city centre of Swansea, it launched in 1977 and reopened in 2008 after a £32 million refurbishment.
5. Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
Sandcastle Waterpark is the UK’s largest indoor water park, having debuted in 1986. It features over 18 slides and attractions set in a tropical climate, including thrilling ‘white knuckle’ slides, pools, a wave machine, and water play structures for younger guests. The park’s five most exciting slides are Master Blaster, Sidewinder, Montazooma, Aztec Falls, and Duelling Dragons. Families 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. Lynn Williams, Blackpool Council leader, stated: “The Sandcastle Waterpark is one of the council’s big success stories. Over the years, it has received significant investment to maintain and grow its immense popularity with visitors and residents alike.”
6. Splashdown Poole, Dorset
Splashdown Poole in Dorset is located at the Tower Park complex and opened in 1990. The water park features 13 thrilling indoor and outdoor flume rides and three splash zones for children. The park’s most exciting attractions include Infinity, Zambezi Drop, Dragon’s Lair, The Screamer, Velocity, and Baron’s Revenge. Additionally, it offers Ricky’s Reef, a toddler pool, the interactive water play area Buccaneer Splash, and Buccaneer Beach, an outdoor splash pool for warmer seasons.
7. Splashdown Quaywest, Paignton
Splashdown Quaywest opened in 1988 and is the largest outdoor water park in the UK. Located near Paignton in Devon, the attraction features twisting tyre rides and slippery waterslides. Its most thrilling slides include Devil’s Drop, The Screamer, and Wild Kamikaze. The park also offers the Sidewinder, Corkscrew, Wet and Wild mat rides, and the Raging Rapids and Surf Lagoon tyre rides. Toddlers can enjoy splashing in the Blennies Tiddler Pool.
8. Waterworld, Stoke-on-Trent
Promoted as the UK’s premier tropical-themed indoor water park, Waterworld Aqua Park is located at the Waterworld Leisure Resort in Stoke-on-Trent. In addition to the water park, the resort offers tiki-themed mini-golf and a spa and fitness facility. Waterworld opened in 1989 and features over 30 rides and attractions, including Thunderbolt, the first trapdoor drop waterslide in the UK, which is part of the new Tornado Alley zone. This zone also includes the UK’s highest and fastest waterslides. The attraction’s pools include Rapids and Lily Pads, along with a wave pool and bubble pools. Attractions for children include the interactive Jungle House and slides for toddlers. In summer, guests can relax in the outdoor pool.
9. The Wave, Coventry
One of the UK’s newest and largest indoor water parks, The Wave opened in Coventry in 2019 and is operated by CV Life. The attraction features six epic waterslides – The Cascade, The Crestar, The Rapids, The Riptide, The Torrent, and The Cyclone. The water park also boasts the UK’s largest wave pool, which churns 20 million litres of water daily, as well as a lazy river and a beach café. Younger guests can have fun at The Reef, a large splash pad with jets, sprays, and slides.
