Water Park Holidays in the UK

Describing itself as a "Tropical Aqua Park", Waterworld brings a touch of the exotic and a whole heap of excitement to the Midlands. There are 30 rides in total, which should keep kids busy for hours, and the selection is impressively diverse. Adrenaline-fuelled rides like Space Bowl and Tornado Alley cater for thrill-addicts, while bubble pools and lazy rivers let you chill out between descents. This mix makes it an unbeatable family day out.

Located in west Wales, Blue Lagoon is another sub-tropical water wonderland. Built around a popular wave pool, the complex also encompasses a child-friendly lazy river, tranquil spa pools with hydro jets, and an outdoor section for summer afternoons. The flumes are the stars here, with speedy descents like the Cannon and the Tornado testing the courage of the most dare-devil waterpark veterans.

The best waterpark on the south coast by some distance, Poole's Splashdown is all about thrills. There are 13 flumes in total, with various levels of steepness, so all ages can enjoy the experience of plunging into the splash pools below. The great thing about Splashdown is its features for toddlers and the under 5s in general, including the Buccaneer Splash play area and the outdoor Buccaneer Beach.

Scotland's number one waterpark, Time Capsule is just as exciting and satisfying as anything down south. With rides like the Tornado Tantrum, the 10 metre tall Storm Chaser flume, and the raucous Tsunami wave pool, it's a place where families can let off steam for hours on end without running out of activities. Cove Island is a sanctuary for younger visitors, so all aquatic adventurers can enjoy a slice of the action.

While the outdoor adventure park may be more famous, Alton Towers also has a superb water park on site that flume fans mustn't miss. Enjoy your time floating down the lazy river - watch out for water cannons! Gain some serious speed on the Master Blaster ride, and then tone things down at Bubbly Wubbly bubble pool.