lazy

WITH all this hot weather we have been having, can you name a better place to be than a waterpark?

And how about the biggest indoor waterpark in the UK?

On a recent hot weekend I found myself in Blackpool and beelined for Sandcastle Waterpark, which claims the title as the biggest indoor waterpark in the UK.

Kept to a toasty 29C, the waterpark has more than 18 water slides and attractions.

Upon entering the park, my eyes immediately looked up to the Master Blaster which claims the title as the world’s longest indoor roller coaster waterslide, stretching 250 metres.

I’ll be honest, hearing the terrified-yet-joyful screams did put me off and while I failed to muster the courage for this slide, the waterpark has loads of others to enjoy.

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I opted to head on Sidewinder instead, the world’s first indoor vertical drop slide.

My heart lurched as I hovered over the edge of the half-pipe in my rubber ring.

Before I had a chance to back out, I was tipped over the edge, dropping metres down before shooting right up the opposite side of the pipe.

Unlike me, just remember to smile for the camera.

Next up was Aztec Falls, which quickly became my favourite.

In a rubber ring, you drop into a pitch-black bowl and swirl around in the dark.

The roar of the rushing water made me feel as if I had been sucked into a waterfall.

Other slides include Montazooma, where you head down a large drop and whizz through bends at high speed.

And ideal for competitive family members, you can head on the Duelling Dragon slides and race side by side in the near dark.

At this point I had exhausted my bravery for the day, and decided to head to one of the busiest areas of the entire waterpark – the Typhoon Lagoon Wavepool.

I spent 20 minutes bobbing up and down, lulling my heart rate back to a somewhat normal level.

Every so often, the waves are turned on, which makes you feel as if you are surfing the waves in the actual ocean.

Another section I found relaxing was the Ushi Gushi Action River, where I floated in the gentle current, leaving me feeling as if I was bobbing down a river in Thailand.

Little ones just getting used to the water aren’t left out either with the Caribbean Storm Treehouse packed with water cannons and splash zones.

For an extra £7.50 per person, you can get access to the Sea Breeze Spa.

While there isn’t much there, it is nice to have an adult-only retreat in the middle of the park.

I hopped between the salt inhalation room, steam room and sauna for a good half hour at the end of my waterpark session.

It allowed me to chill out after all the thrills – though you’ll still hear all the screams and water blasts of the park.

If you want to spend more time without kids running around you, then you can book the Tiki Cabana Experience, which gives you access to an exclusive area with your own TV, soft drinks and hot tub.

Sessions tend to last three hours, which is plenty of time to experience all the slides and attractions.

Each session costs £22.31 per person over the age of eight, and £14.44 per child aged between three and seven.

Is it worth it? I think so, as there is more than enough to do and kids will be hard pressed to want to leave.

The lido is a beloved outdoor swimming pool for families, and with its Mediterranean-inspired design and 300-metre lazy river, it’s reminiscent of a luxury hotel pool abroad

A lido that is often likened to pools found in Greece and across the Mediterranean has opened its doors for the summer season, just in time for the third expected heatwave to hit the UK.

The pool has been loved by local families ever since it first welcomed visitors in 1896, and nowadays draws tourists from far and wide too. It’s not difficult to understand why.

One glance at the lido, with its strikingly blue waters, splashpad and 300 metre-long lazy river, and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were lounging at an overseas hotel pool.

Yet this dazzling blue pool is actually tucked away in Kent, just over an hour from London. The Strand Lido in Gillingham also holds the unique distinction of being the only riverside saltwater pool in the entire UK.

Fed directly from the River Medway, the water is filtered and chlorinated to ensure it’s perfectly safe for swimmers of all ages. The Lido Guide wrote about the Strand: “Nothing about the exterior gives away what lies within. What lies within is a riot of Mediterranean-resort-style colour and fun. Any children in the party will be completely unable to contain their excitement.

“The whole thing is a freeform riot of bright white painted concrete, edged in royal blue, that gives the treated river water that fills the pool a hue that is more reminiscent of Greece than Kent.”

There are six 25-metre long lanes for swimming, alongside a paddling pool for toddlers and enjoyable extras such as water fountains. As the pool is unheated, it operates on a seasonal basis only, and it reopened for 2026 on May 23.

The pool then opens at weekends until the school summer holidays, when it operates daily before closing at some point in September. Tickets must be booked online through the Medway Council website to secure your spot at this much-loved pool.

During opening days, the pool offers two sessions: the first from 10.30am to 1.30pm and the second from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. There’s also a free to use Splash Pad in the park that has the same opening hours as the lido.

Alongside the pool itself, the complex boasts sunbathing and relaxation areas, a café serving food — though you’re more than welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy it in one of the park’s shaded spots — as well as play areas. There are changing rooms, poolside showers and a shop stocking inflatables, though you can also bring your own rubber ring.

The Strand Leisure Park is also home to a miniature railway that operates seasonally, trundling around the park on sunny days, along with plenty of riverside walks to explore.

One glowing review read: “We travelled from Suffolk and booked the afternoon session. Stopped for some lunch on the way. Lovely day out. Pool has a lazy river, kids pool and adult pool, changing rooms, toilets, café. Lots of space to set up camp for the afternoon but not a lot of shade.”

Another visitor commented: “Very good few hours. Looks like we are on holiday. Lazy river all around the outside (take a rubber ring). “

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SUNNY weather in the UK often makes you want a refreshing swim – and there is one spot that families are claiming is the best in the country to do this.

The Wave in Coventry is no normal indoor waterpark.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

Instead visitors can expect the biggest wave pool in the UK.

The further into the pool you go, the bigger the waves get, reaching a total height of up to half a metre and will operate at specific times during a swim session.

How do you know the waves are coming? A warning signal will blast out.

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During the 10:15am to 12:15pm session, the waves will run at 10:30am, 11am, 11:30am and 12pm, for 10 minutes at a time.

During the 1pm to 3pm session the wave pool will run at quarter past and quarter to each hour for 10 minutes at a time, which is the same for the 4pm to 6pm session.

And across these sessions, the wave pool churns around 20 million litres of water, everyday.

But visitors get more than just waves when they visit as the waterpark also has six slides.

These include The Torrent, where – rather scarily – the floor disappears from beneath you, making you plunge into a pool below (though this is currently closed for the foreseeable due to technical issues).

There’s also The Crestar, which has two giant enclosed spheres you whirl around in as lighting effects flash around you.

And like any good waterpark, there’s a water coaster – The Rapids – which hurls riders up the ride before dropping them through a series of tunnels.

Other rides include The Cyclone, which is one of the fastest at the park and The Riptide.

For those who aren’t a fan of waterslides and rides, then there are other attractions too including a lazy river with bubbles and water jets.

Little kids are included as well, with The Reef splash zone, which includes mini slides, tipping buckets, jets and fountains.

One person on TripAdvisor even said: “Wow, I’m blown away, that is the best waterpark I have ever been to.”

Another added: “This was the best water park I’ve ever been to!

“It had a great DJ, loads of amazing slides and lots of fun for the whole family.

“The facility and how it is run is very slick. Would definitely recommend!”

Off- peak tickets cost £15 per adult and £13 per child and peak tickets cost £19.70 per adult and £15 per child.

If one parent fancies a little R&R while the other enters the waves with the kids, there is also the Mana spa onsite with a swimming pool, aromatherapy room, steam room, sauna and foot spa.

A three hour pass costs from £35 on weekdays, or £45 at weekends and on bank holidays.

If you do want to have a treatment, options include facials, pedicures and back massages.

There’s also a gym onsite.

What’s even better is that The Wave is just a 10-minute walk from Coventry train station.

A POPULAR English lido is re-opening just in time for summer – and it’s had a total makeover.

The outdoor splash park featuring fun elephant slides and a lazy river will welcome back families later this month, following a refresh.

An opening date for The Strand Lido and Leisure Park in Gillingham has been confirmed.

The refurbished Kent lido, which has the UK’s only remaining riverside tidal saltwater pool, will begin bringing the summer fun from Saturday May 23.

It will first be open for weekends, before offering its facilities seven days a week in the school summer holidays.

Two pool sessions are set to run every day the lido is open. The first from 10.30am to 1.30pm and the second from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.

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Entry to sessions must be booked online. While children under three go free, adult tickets are £8.15, with junior and senior tickets priced at £5.35.

The spruced up lido was revived last year, funded by contributions from housing developments to Medway Council.

The Strand, which first opened in 1896, now features a new splash pad for children aged three to 11.

There’s also a beach-themed play area with 30 sensor-activated water jets alongside the large outdoor pool, elephant-shaped water slides and a 300 metre lazy river.

Those who love a long swim can make use of the open-air pool’s six 25 metre lanes.

After a day of water play, families can relax with a refreshment at the Victorian lido’s cafe, enjoy a hit on the refurbished tennis courts or take on a round of mini golf.

There’s even a miniature train for little ones to ride.