overwater

WE AREN’T all lucky enough to be close to the coast, so when it comes to hot weather days, it can be hard to find a spot to enjoy the sun.

Yet across the country there are a number of inland beaches you can head to – so we’ve rounded up the best across the country.

Cotswold Country Park & Beach

The UK’s largest inland beach can be found in the Cotswolds at Cotswold Country Park and Beach, where you can head to the Main Beach for some swimming or dip in the Paddling Lagoon.

The beach is then backed by a grassy area, ideal for picnics.

But don’t worry if you haven’t brought your own food as there is the Beach Shack serving light bites as well as an Ice Cream Hut.

Admission varies depending on the time of year, but during peak season pedestrians and cyclists can access the park from £5 per person and a car of up to five people costs from £18.18 (around £3.64 each).

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Ruislip Lido Beach, London

Ruislip Lido Beach in Hillingdon, West London, is a long stretch of sand with its own palm trees.

Even though you aren’t allowed to swim at the beach, you can sunbathe making it the ideal spot for city dwellers to escape to.

There’s plenty to keep kids occupied though, including a pirate ship play area and a splash pad.

Entry to the beach, splash pad and play area is free.

Loch Morlich, Scotland

Loch Morlich Beach can be found in the Cairngorms National Park, near Aviemore, in Scotland.

The unique beach sits 300 metres above sea level in Glenmore Forest Park and while sunbathing on the beach you can even see the snow-topped Cairngorm mountains.

When it comes to the water, it is one of the cleanest freshwater beaches in the UK where you can rent paddleboards and kayaks if you fancy.

The beach is free to visit.

Wallingford Beach, Oxfordshire

Found close to Wallingford Bridge, you can head to Wallingford Beach which stretches 35 metres long.

The Thames-side beach is backed by grass too which is ideal for a picnic.

Despite being a river spot, the water tends to have little to no current during the peak season but is also a designated swimming spot, so the water is tested regularly.

The spot is free to visit.

Rutland Water Beach, East Midlands

In the East Midlands, you can head to Rutland Water Beach which stretches 140 metres.

The spot is the first bathing location in England to achieve both a Blue Flag and Seaside Award for its water quality.

While the beach is open all year round, you can only swim in the water in the summer months from May to September, with opening hours varying from 10am to 6pm.

Access to the beach is free.

St Andrews Lakes, Kent

Close to Rochester, St Andrews Lakes has not one but two beaches with sunloungers and pretty blue waters to swim in.

There’s also a Nordic-inspired wellness centre with a hot tub and wood-fired sauna.

You can even stay at the lakes too in overwater lodges that look like ones in the Maldives.

Entry starts from £7.50 per person.

Hemsworth Water Park, West Yorkshire

Hemsworth Water Park in West Yorkshire has not one but two lakes.

Even though you can’t swim in the lakes, the sandy beaches are the ideal place to chill out in the sunshine.

There’s also Playworld by the beach, which is an outdoor adventure playground with a tower slide and climbing frames.

The attraction is free to visit but if you want to go to Playworld, it costs £3 per person.

River Dart Country Park, Devon

Near Dartmoor in Devon, you can head to River Dart Country Park which is home to a beach at the edge of a lake.

In the middle of the lake you will also find a partially sunken pirate ship.

There’s also a desert island with sand and faux palm trees.

Admission costs between £10 and £14.95 per person depending on whether you visit on a weekday or at the weekend.

Church Stretton Reservoir, Shropshire

Located at National Trust‘s Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton Reservoir has a man-made beach ideal for a day in the sun.

While on the beach you can look out to Long Mynd as well.

You can swim in the reservoir as well.

The spot is free to visit and there are a number of nice walks in the area too.

Gaddings Dam, West Yorkshire

Famous for having England’s highest beach, you can head to Gaddings Dam in West Yorkshire.

In addition to the beach, you can swim in the dam which has previously been described by visitors as a “wild swimmer’s paradise”.

It is free to visit, but you’ll need to hike for around 30 minutes to get to the spot.

THE heat is on and there’s a spot in Kent with an enormous lake and beach that people say feels more like being abroad.

Found at the site of a former quarry, St Andrews Lake in Kent is where you can do everything from open-water swimming to paddleboarding and kayaking.

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On a summer‘s day, the water is so blue that it’s even been called a ‘taste of the Mediterranean’, by author Lisa Drewe.

During the summer season, visitors can book a session for its aqua park, which is the largest in the county (from £26 per session).

The aqua park has inflatable slides, a climbing wall, swings and other obstacles to jump around on.

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There’s another inflatable park for smaller children which is specifically for those two to six years old – from £16 per child.

Around the lake there are even beach spots – so you will be able to feel even more like you’re on holiday.

In fact, there are two beaches at St Andrews Lakes; ‘Carp’ and ‘Coots’ – both have soft sand, sun loungers on the shore, free parking, and lifeguards are on duty.

For adults, entry starts from £27.50 per adult which is for all-day access and includes a deluxe sun lounger.

Entry for children starts from £7.50 per person which doesn’t include a sun lounger (children under two go free).

On the water, visitors can rent and have a go on the kayaks, pedalos, stand-up paddleboards, Mega SUP and Bell Boats.

Not all activities involve getting in the water, there are plenty of things to do on dry land too.

There’s a 24-foot climbing wall with 15 different routes, archery, axe throwing, yoga and the zip wire.

The zip wire is a great way to get spectacular views over the lake, which whizzes above the waters below.

When it comes to relaxing, there’s a place for wellness too with either a 1.5 or three-hour sessions.

Here, take a dip in a lakeside hot tub, detox in a wood-fired sauna, and refresh with a plunge in the natural lagoon.

On-site is also a pizzeria, cafe, ice cream hut and during the colder months, a crumble bar.

If one day here isn’t enough, there are options to stay, one of which is by bringing your own motorhome or campervan on one of the eight hard-standing pitches.

Or book one of the ‘luxury floating lodges‘ – each comes with private decking, a hot tub, and views across the lake.

One recent visitor said: “I never imagined that I could be blown away on a holiday in Kent. St Andrews Lakes lodges or boat houses are just amazing.

“If you want the Maldives but don’t want to pay or travel too far, then this is as good if not better – I’m talking from experience.”

One of the smaller lodges is Point Lodge which sleeps up to two people.

Inside is a double bed, kitchen, small table and chairs, TV, bathroom, and decking over the water with two fold-out deckchairs for sunbathing.

Seven-nights at Point Lodge starts from £569 – or £40.60pppn

The Lakeside is the largest of the overwater lodges, it sleeps up to five people and has two bedrooms.

Inside is a separate living area with a dining table and huge windows so even if the sun isn’t shining the views can still be admired.

The decking wraps around the lodge with the hot tub back on dry land to the side.

Prices for The Lakeside starts from £609per week.

A MAJOR cruise line is launching a new ship later this year and it will have a first-of-its-kind outdoor theme park onboard.

MSC World Asia is the third ship in the ‘World Class’ series, and will start sailings in December.

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Called The Harbour, the ‘open air’ theme park will be found on the top deck in the Family Aventura District – and it’s the first ship in Europe to have one.

Here is where guests can try out the Adventure Trail rope course and the longest dry slide at sea.

It will also have Europe‘s first over-water swing called Cliffhanger which will hang over the ocean.

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Families can also try out both the Twin Racer dueling waterslides and U Drop too.

For younger guests, there’s the a new playground called The Play Deck which is a relaxed space with comfy seating.

Rides can be enjoyed well into the evening as when it’s time for sunset as The Harbour lights up in the dark.

Luna Park is an interactive area with immersive game experiences – which isn’t found on any other MSC cruise ship.

It has three original game shows, Code Breakers, Labrinth and Chart Toppers.

The Family Aventura District also has The ClubHouse and Doremiland, a 10,000-square-foot kids club with dedicated spaces for each age group.

Inside Doremiland are two rooms dedicated to LEGO and another that’s Formula 1-themed.

MSC Cruises Vice President of Entertainment Steve Leatham said: “As a family-owned company, MSC Cruises knows what it takes to keep the whole family happy on holiday, with tailored family entertainment activities and facilities for guests of all ages.

“On board MSC World Asia, family entertainment will reach new heights – bigger, bolder and more innovative than ever.

“Featuring our widest range of programs yet, alongside immersive, interactive and personalized experiences for everyone from toddlers to teens, families can expect truly extraordinary moments at sea.”

MSC World Asia is expected to enter service in December 2026, offering 7-night itineraries to Mediterranean destinations across Italy, France and Malta.

Around the ship will be seven themed neighbourhoods, like the AquaDeck, Family Aventura, Galleria, MSC Yacht Club, Promenade, The Terraces and Zen Area.

On the Aqua Deck will be seven pools and 13 whirlpool baths, including two newly designed pools; the outdoor Manila Bay pool and the indoor Coral Cove pool.

MSC World Asia is part of the ‘World Class’ series – the first two ships were MSC World Europa, delivered in 2022 and MSC World America in 2025.

MSC Cruises is the world’s third-largest cruise line with 23 ships that sail across five continents and over 300 destinations.