SPLIT between heading to a seaside town or the Cotswolds over Easter? Well, what if you could head to the Cotswolds but still get time on the beach…
A beach isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the Cotswolds, but near the village of Somerford Keynes you’ll find one, and you can head there from this week.
Cotswolds Country Park and Beach features the largest inland beach in the UK, as well as swimming lagoons.
This is despite the Cotswolds beach being more than 70 miles from the sea.
And the attraction reopens on March 27, including the Main Beach Swimming spot where visitors can have a paddle or sunbathe on the sand.
The beach also looks out across the lake, which means you can keep an eye on kids splashing in the water or watch people pedal on pedalo swans.
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In the peak season, you can expect there to be lifeguards as well.
Near the beach is a BBQ area, in case you fancy sizzling some sausages in the sun.
Dogs are welcome to join you when you visit the country park, but they are not allowed on the beach or in the water.
One recent visitor said: “We enjoyed playing on the beach, the water was lovely and clean and just a nice chilled vibe.”
Right by the beach, you can also grab some snacks too at the Beach Shack.
For warmer days and when you need to cool down, there is an ice cream hut as well.
But the country park doesn’t only boast a beach; families can also hire kayaks or stand-up paddleboards, costing £10 for a 30-minute session.
Alternatively, you could hop on a pedalo swan or rowing boat for the same price.
And one of the biggest attractions at the park is AquaAdventure, which is a giant inflatable water obstacle course.
Each session lasts around an hour and costs from £15 per person.
If you think the water is a little nippy or would rather stay firmly dry, there is a mini golf course as well, which costs £5 per play.
And children needing to burn some energy can have a go on the climbing wall for the same price, or head to the two playgrounds.
You will also need to pay to get into the park in the first place, which varies depending on the time of the year.
In May, you could enjoy the sun while mid-season prices are available, which costs £4.09 per person or £13.64 per car of up to five people, so about £2.73 each.
However, during the high season, it usually costs £5 per person, or £18.18 for a car of up to five people (so about £3.64 each)
Our favourite UK holiday parks
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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.
St Ives Bay Beach Resort, Cornwall
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.
Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park, Northampton
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.
In the surrounding area, there are a few places you can choose to stay at as well.
For example, you could head to Cotswold Lakes Camping at Field Farm, which is surrounded by lakes, wildlife and rolling hills.
The site boasts hardstanding pitches with electrical hook-ups, grass pitches, and open field grass pitches, as well as hot showers, indoor and outdoor kitchens, and is dog-friendly.
A standard grass pitch sleeping up to six people costs from £40 a night.
And if you want to explore the wider area, Cirencester is down the road.
The pretty market town sits on the River Churn, and it is the largest town in the Cotswolds.
If you are looking for more places to explore in the Cotswolds, head to the ‘Golden Triangle’, where you will find some of the UK’s prettiest towns.
Plus, the ‘Gateway to the Cotswolds’ that had the first English king, has been named one of the best places to live in the UK.