Herts &amp; Beds

Ok, so we can&#8217;t boast about beaches in Herts and Beds (it doesn&#8217;t get much further from the coast, sob!) but there are still plenty of places to chill out in the water as the mercury rises, without having to sweat it out in the car for hours. Here’s my round-up of the best local spots for H2O-based fun, from high-octane waterparks to lovely lidos and squeal-y good splash parks.



WATERPARKS



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Lee-valley-white-water-new-1000x667.jpg" alt="People in a raft on white water with helmets life jackets and oars" class="wp-image-84883" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Lee-valley-white-water-new-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Lee-valley-white-water-new-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Lee-valley-white-water-new.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Seeking a bit of aquatic-fuelled adrenaline? At <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/watersports" target="_blank">Lee Valley Regional Park</a>, (a 26-mile long, 10,000 acre recreational space, which follows the River Lee and spans London, Essex and Herts), there&#8217;s no shortage of water-based fun to be found. Take on the rapids with some white water rafting, canoeing or hydrospeeding (turbo powered surf boarding) at the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/wwc-products" target="_blank">White Water Centre.</a> If you prefer taking life at a more leisurely pace try your hand at kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, (SUP), sailing or hire a rowboat or pedalo and mess about on the water.



At <a href="https://rideleisure.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ride Leisure</a>, Wyboston Lakes on the Beds/Cambs border, you can add jetskiing, jetbiking and hovercrafting into the mix. Plus something called JetLev, where you basically get attached to a water canon and fired into the air. There&#8217;s an awesome aqua park here too, with trampolines, slides, balance beams and climbing walls, too &#8211; get an hour of boundless fun for just twenty quid.



Got a wannabe Ninja Warrior in the family? Head to <a href="https://www.boxendpark.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Box End Aqua Park</a> in Bedford, which has the world&#8217;s first Lake Ninja course. There&#8217;s also an epic water slide, overhead cable tows for wakeboarding, and open water swimming sessions. There&#8217;s even a beach zone where you can pull up a deckchair on the sandy lake side and reeeeelax. Plus &#8211; win for the parents &#8211; there&#8217;s a Kids holiday camp from 22 July &#8211; 2 Sept. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="986" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/box-end-aqua-park.jpg" alt="adults and kids jumping in the air on inflatables in the water" class="wp-image-78350" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/box-end-aqua-park.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/box-end-aqua-park-800x526.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/box-end-aqua-park-1000x657.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/box-end-aqua-park-799x525.jpg 799w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



In Herts, the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.threeriversleisure.co.uk/park---rickmansworth-aquadrome" target="_blank">Rickmansworth Aquadrome</a> is a nature reserve with two man-made lakes for watersports, and it&#8217;s got a fab café too &#8211; no soggy sarnies in sight! &#8211; as well as <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/welwyn-hatfield/stanborough-park-water-sports-centre" target="_blank">Stanborough Park Watersports Centre,</a> which is well set-up for those wanting to try out the more sedate aqua activities, like sailing, rafting and kayaking. And check out the 120-acre <a href="https://www.stevenage.gov.uk/leisure-culture-and-wellbeing/parks-and-open-spaces/fairlands-valley-park" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Fairlands Valley Park</a> in Stevenage, which boasts four connected lakes &#8211; one of which is dedicated to fishing, sailing, wind surfing, kayaking, power boating, and dragon boat racing. There&#8217;s also a fun aqua park for the littlies.



<a href="https://www.h2orampage.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">H2O Rampage in Ware</a> looks as much of a blast as it sounds. With access to the aquapark you can give the inflatable obstacle course a run for its money, or book in for a little open water swimming (previous experience required). Alternatively enjoy a more tranquil Stand-Up-Paddleboard yoga session.



On the borders, we&#8217;ve got in <a href="http://www.willenlake.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Willen Lake</a> in Milton Keynes which makes for a great day trip and you can try every kind of water sport going, or just drift around on a pedalo. Plus, check out <a href="https://aqua-splash.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Aqua Splash</a> inflatable obstacle Course in Sawbridgeworth on the Herts/Essex border.



SPLASH PARKS



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="541" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/willen-lakes-splash-and-play-1000x541.jpg" alt="boy playing in splash park willen lakes" class="wp-image-78353" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/willen-lakes-splash-and-play-1000x541.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/willen-lakes-splash-and-play-800x433.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/willen-lakes-splash-and-play-900x487.jpg 900w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/willen-lakes-splash-and-play.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Splash n play at Willen Lake</figcaption></figure>



In North Herts little ones can have a whale of a time at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.parksherts.co.uk/parks/view/howard-park-and-gardens##" target="_blank">Howard Park and Gardens</a>, Letchworth, with its 120m paddling pool and water jets. The offering at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Bancroft Recreation Ground (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/bancroft-recreation-ground" target="_blank">Bancroft Recreation Ground</a> in Hitchin includes a pirate ship and tipping buckets. Plus you&#8217;ll find a fun splash pad at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.parksherts.co.uk/parks/view/avenue-park##" target="_blank">Baldock&#8217;s Avenue Park</a>, and a May pole and play streams at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.roystontown.uk/see-do-in-royston/royston-splash-park/" target="_blank">Royston&#8217;s Priory and Memorial Gardens</a>.



<a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/cassiobury-park-paddling-pools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cassiobury Park</a> in Watford has three super slick splash pads, water jets, and fountains and is pretty popular so book ahead to avoid disappointment. The <a href="https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/verulamium-park" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Verulamium Splash Park</a> in St Albans and <a href="https://www.parksherts.co.uk/parks/view/gadebridge-park##" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gadebridge Park in Hemel Hempstead</a>, have pretty good ones, too, as well as things like crazy golf, giant chess, play areas and beach courts. 



Over in Milton Keynes Willen Lake has one of the UK’s largest splash parks, <a href="https://www.willenlake.org.uk/activities/splash-n-play/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Splash’n’Play</a>, with 60 water features suitable for kids up to 13. A 45-min session costs £6.50. 



OUTDOOR POOLS



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="883" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/hitchin-lido.jpg" alt="Hitchin lido" class="wp-image-78354" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/hitchin-lido.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/hitchin-lido-800x471.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/hitchin-lido-1000x589.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/hitchin-lido-892x525.jpg 892w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hitchin Lido</figcaption></figure>



Prefer to just laze about on a sunlounger? Luckily, we&#8217;re pretty well off for lidos in our neck of the woods. For starters, in Herts there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/hitchin-swimming-and-fitness-centre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hitchin&#8217;s glorious 50-metre heated pool</a>, complete with sunbathing terrace (can we sneak a Piña Colada in?) and the option to book sunloungers. 



Also &#8216;one of the best outdoor pools in Hertfordshire&#8217; is <a href="https://www.sll.co.uk/letchworth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Letchworth Pool</a>, where you can kick back on the grass with an ice cream and a good book. They offer lane swimming, family fun sessions and lessons. 



<a href="https://www.warepriorylido.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Priory Lido in Ware</a> is open until 29 September with season tickets, monthly passes and low season tickets (ahead of the school holidays), available. It celebrates its 90th anniversary this year (it had a full refurb a year ago so is looking tip top!) 



Over in Bedfordshire, there&#8217;s the charity-run <a href="https://eversholtswimmingpool.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eversholt Swimming Pool</a>, in the heart of the pretty village of the same name. Book a general swim session for just £6. And if you like the idea of a lido with a local community feel, <a href="https://woburnlido.weebly.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Woburn&#8217;s outdoor pool</a>, just on the edge of the Woburn Abbey Estate, ticks all the boxes for a lovely day out. 



Have I missed any? Let me know by commenting in the box below!

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