AFTER countless delays and setbacks, an abandoned lido is finally re-opening after a year of regeneration work.
The newly-refurbished splash park in Cambridgeshire has reached its final development stages after construction began last year.
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St Neots in Cambridgeshire will be welcoming a state-of-the-art splash parkCredit: St Neots Aquatic and Leisure CIO
St Neots Splash Park will be located on Huntingdon Road in the medieval Cambridgeshire town, near to the popular Priory Park.
This space will replace the sealed up site of the historic St Neots Lido, which attracted swimmers for over 40 years.
Since its closure back in 2003, the space has been left abandoned, despite its appealing location.
The advancement of the project was triggered by a successful Independent Professional Playground Safety Inspection, and commencement date for the final commissioning schedule.
This work will be followed by a “soft opening” of the park, which has been confirmed for May 2, just in time for the bank holiday.
Details for the formal opening of the splash park are not confirmed, but are expected to be announced soon.
Attractions will include a leaping water arch, aqua tent, and moreCredit: St Neots Aquatic and Leisure CIOSt Neots Town is located on the River Great Ouse in CambridgeshireCredit: Alamy
The park’s construction has been no small feat, costing nearly £800,000 to build and requiring a £600,000 council grant.
Now, the site boasts a range of interactive features, including a leaping water arch, a hydro blast and an aqua tent, which forms a dome of water for children to play underneath.
It is also decorated with an appealing range of bright colours and LED lighting, activated using floor mounted buttons.
A spokesperson for St Neots Aquatic and Leisure said the opening will be “giving local families the first opportunity to enjoy this new inclusive outdoor play space”.
A LIDO that sits just inland of the Bristol Channel has reopened its doors after a huge makeover.
Portishead Open Air Pool was closed for the season last year while it underwent huge upgrades – but it is back open for business.
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Portishead Open Air Pool has opened after a £1.3million refurbishmentCredit: TripAdvisorThe café at the swimming pool in Portishead has a new look tooCredit: Portishead Open Air Pool
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On its website, organisers announced: “Our pool refurbishment is complete and we are open for the heated season.
“The Café has re-opened following refurbishment and is now open Monday to Sunday – please come and visit us!”
Portishead Open Air Pool has been open for 64 years, but closed briefly in 2025 to undergo improvement works with its £1.3million grant.
One of the new additions to the pool includes solar panels which means it’s “fit for the future” according to Chair of the Portishead Pool Community Trust, Claudia Amos.
She added that this means Portishead is actually warmer than some indoor pools and sits around 28C between April and September.
Other improvement works include that to the café and changing rooms.
The pool itself is 33 metres long, and there’s a toddler pool alongside it for little ones.
For those who want to head in for a swim, a session in the lanes costs £7 per person.
Family and general swims are £6.50 for adults and £5 for children (those age two and under go free).
There are also Twilight Swim sessions from £7.25 and a Full Moon swim is £8per person.
During the winter, the lido welcomes brave cold water swimmers from 9am until midday – and for those who are new to the trend, it does have ‘introduction to Cold Water’ sessions too.
The on-site café, which also underwent a makeover is open Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm and weekends 9am – 4pm.
After a swim, you can pick up homemade cakes, sausage rolls, soup, paninis, teacakes and ice cream.
Portishead Open Air Pool has recently reopened after a huge makeoverCredit: Alamy
Here are of our favourite UK holiday parks (and some even have swimming pools)…
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Park Holidays UK Sand le Mere, Yorkshire
This holiday park in Yorkshire is a thriving family resort, just steps from Tunstall Beach. Entertainment is what this resort does best, with costume character performances, Link-up Bingo and cabaret shows. Accommodation ranges from fully-equipped Gold Caravans to Platinum Lodges with sun decks and luxury bedding.
This beachfront resort in St Ives, Cornwall is a true beach bum’s paradise – whether you want to laze out on the sand, or take to the waves for some surfing. Activities include disc golf, a Nerf challenge and an outdoor cinema, as well as indoor activities for the colder months like karaoke, bingo and DJ sets.
This holiday park has loads of unique activities on offer, including TikTok dance classes, alpaca feeding, a pump track for BMX riding, and taking a ride on the resort’s very own miniature railway. Throw in bug hotel and den building, pond dipping, survival skills workshops and a lake for paddleboard and pedalo hire, and you’ve got yourself an action-packed park.
Parkdean Resorts Camber Sands, Sussex This beachfront resort is a classic family favourite. If you’re not up to swimming in the sea, there’s four fantastic pools here, as well as water flumes, underwater jets, inflatable jet skis and kayak races. Plus if you’ve got any little fans of Paw Patrol or Milkshake!, you’ll be glad to know there’s Milkshake! Mornings and Paw Patrol Mighty Missions to keep your tots entertained.
