The UK’s best outdoor water parks and lidos – as temperatures set to hit 29C this week
IT'S heating up in the UK with highs of 29C this week, so where better to spend a day than splashing about in cool water?
Enjoy time in the sun with these outdoor pools and water parks that are some of the best in the UK.
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Portishead Open Air Pool first opened to the public in 1962 and is still going strong.
The 33m pool is heated to 28C, which makes it perfect for a quick dip.
There are other facilities too, including a toddler pool, a tuck shop serving a range of hot and cold drinks, and a community cafe.
Portishead Open Air Pool is open every summer from April to October, with entry tickets starting from £6 per person.
When Sun Travel spoke to a lido expert, she revealed this to be one of her top lidos. Emma Pusill has spent the last two decades visiting every lido in the UK.
"It's very difficult to beat Hathersage Swimming Pool in the Peak District, which even opens when there is snow on the ground."
"It's a bit too far away for me to do the ad hoc thing, but they've got a Victorian band stand in the ground, or they do kind of live music in the band side. You can swim as you listen to music the bandstand. It's really lovely."
The pool water is great in all seasons as it's heated throughout the summer and winter.
Unheated water swimming taking place every Saturday through October and November. Entry tickets cost £7.50 for a full-paying adult.
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Shaolstone Seawater Pool one of the few tidal pools left in the UK, and it's been compared to pools in much warmer climates because of its amazing views of the ocean.
The Lido Guide wrote: "Any swimmer who has spent any time at all looking at swimming-related social media feeds will be familiar with the Bondi Icebergs sea pool, even if they have never set foot in Australia.
"We're not usually in the business of comparisons, but in the case of Shoalstone, the comparison is so powerful it would be remiss not to mention it."
There is no entry charge, but they do ask for a voluntary donation of £3.50 per swim or £8 per family to help with running costs.
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Thames Lido has is described as an 'urban retreat' with a heated pool and spa facilities.
It's also a great place to spend the day as it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
A swim and breakfast package in April where you get full access to the facilities and a breakfast cost £35, going up to £40 in May.
There's also a swim and lunch offer from £40pp.
There's also an on-site spa where you can enjoy a massage.
Thames Lido in Reading has won the "Putting Reading on the Map" award at the Pride of Reading Awards.
For non-members, you can book a two hour session which includes use of the pool, sauna, steam room and hot tub from £25pp.
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Tinside Lido in Plymouth first opened in 1935, celebrating its 90th birthday this year.
It is often is named as one of the best outdoor pools in Europe with previous visitors have raved about the pool, saying it is "like being abroad" in the summer months.
The saltwater pool isn't heated, but has both a shallow and deep end and a central fountain.
Tickets range from £4.80 to £8, with cheaper tickets for locals.
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The waterpark at Alton Towers has an indoor and outdoor area.
Take a trip outside with Flash Floods where you'll find the flumes and a tropical pool.
There is also the Lagoona Bay indoor pool, as well as the Wacky Waterworks Treehouse, with 70 features including cannons and water wheels.
For anyone who wants to take it slow, the lazy river Calypso Creek takes you around the water park.
Or you can wait for the Tipping Bucket bell to be under the 100l waterfall.
Otherwise rides including the Master Blaster and the Rush 'N' Rampage, with the latter letting you pick your own music and light show.
A day ticket is cheaper if you buy it online, with prices from £18.
It has a walk up price of £25.
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Wheelgate in Nottingham has a huge Splash Play area in the Robin Hood zone, which features a range of water slides, cascading waterfalls and a huge drop waterfall.
There are also plenty of sunloungers and seating around it too.
Wheelgate is a family theme park with indoor play centres and a farm on-site too so you can explore those afterwards.
Tickets for an adult ticket ranges between £10.56 to £18.79 - and are cheaper if you pre-book online.
Children's tickets range between 35.96 and £18.79.
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Splashdown in Poole, Dorset has 13 rides to choose from for high-speed thrills on shooting slides and a neat-vertical drop ledge.
Each of the slides has a varying degree of intensity, meaning there’s something for everyone.
There’s even a “bubble bench” and jacuzzi for parenting looking to relax while their kids take on eight-metre drops.
A standard two hour admission starts at £19 per person.
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Splashdown Waterpark in Quaywest is the sister site and opens this bank holiday weekend, and you can book your tickets online now.
The park is on the English Riviera, and has eight adrenaline-pumping slights.
The most daring attraction in the park is called Devil's Drop, where visitors are plunged down a 65ft almost vertical drop into a black hole.
Devil's Drop is also the highest, fastest flume in the UK.
Anyone wanting thrills should also seek out the Screamer which shoots punters down a 60-degree slide.
Adult tickets costs £30 per person, tickets for children between 5 & 8 cost £25.
Here's another lido that will make you feel like you're in Greece.
And the UK’s first floating lido that's set to open in London with freshwater swimming pool and sauna,
- Therme Manchester will have 25 swimming pools, 25 water slides and an indoor beach.
- Modern Surf Manchester will be a surfing lagoon offering lessons to both beginners and experts.
- Chessington World of Adventures Waterpark is set to have wave, infinity and spa pools as well as waterslides and cabanas.
- The Cove Resort, Southport is likely to have a water lagoon and a thermal spa with steam rooms and saunas.
- The Seahive, Deal plans to be the "surfing wellness resort" in the UK.
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