Of all the ways to spend a day out with the kids on a slow weekend, water parks are one of the best. You can reach many good ones from almost any point in the UK, and Liverpool is no exception.
There are numerous water parks within easy driving distance of Liverpool, each with a unique vibe, so whatever you’re in the market for, you’ll find something suitable. The following six water parks are within two hours of the city by car, and they’re guaranteed to provide many hours of fun.
Where better to start than with the biggest waterpark in the entire country? Located in Blackpool, the Sandcastle Waterpark comprises a whopping 18 different attractions, including the only indoor Sidewinder, which is a big V-shaped slide. The Sandcastle is right next to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and takes one hour and 15 minutes to get to by car from Liverpool.
For a more outdoorsy experience that will likely appeal to Total Wipeout fans, Cheshire Aqua Park is a safe bet. It’s essentially an inflatable obstacle course, floating on top of Manley Mere reservoir. Stages include balance beams, trampolines and climbing walls, to name just a few. Manley Mere is about a 45-minute drive south of Liverpool.
No, this bears no relation to the disastrous Kevin Costner film from the ’90s. This Waterworld is the number-one tropical indoor water park in the UK. With facilities including an artificial beach and hot tubs, it caters to adults as much as it does kids, and for thrillseekers, there’s the Black Hole – a slide that submerges you in total darkness all the way down. Waterworld is located in Staffordshire, just outside Stoke-on-Trent, about an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Liverpool.
If you’re looking for a few more options, Wild Shore may be the ideal choice. As well as an inflatable aqua park, it offers wakeboarding lessons, paddleboarding, tubing, sailing and open-water swimming. All of these activities are made all the better by the beautiful surroundings of Delamere. Wild Shore is near Chester, just 45 minutes by car from Liverpool.
Originally a soft-play centre for kids, Bubbles World of Play later added an outdoor activity playground with a big ship-like structure, water cannons, spraying fountains and a giant bucket that periodically dumps water over anyone eagerly waiting below. It’s a great choice for younger kids. Located in New Brighton, it’s a 20-minute drive from the centre of Liverpool.
If you want to stay in the city, you still have options. Liverpool Watersports Centre offers an obstacle course, floating trampolines, sailing lessons and paddleboarding, along with windsurfing, kayaking and canoe hire. It’s a non-profit company that aims to make watersports accessible for all.