May the lovely warm weather continue as I bring you 12 amazing locations where the children can splash about to their hearts content. I’ve listed some wild spots in rivers and streams; more gentle water features in playgrounds and some full on splash pads. All are free and almost all have fantastic facilities with cafes, loos and free parking nearby and all are within 30 mins of Bath. My two little ones love anywhere there is water and happily splash about at all these locations.
Paddle, splash & soak each other. Build dams, throw stones & find tadpoles. Play in the water until you go blue, then warm up with an ice cream. Enjoy your summer!
Safety in and around water: For some comprehensive information and guidance on safety in and around different types of water, please visit the Survive section of The Outdoor Swimming Society who have a great section on safety.
Bathampton Weir
Bathampton Weir is a beautiful spot for a swim but there is also a sloped ‘beach’, think gravelly/sandy beach, where younger ones can paddle & splash about. During the summer months when the river is much lower, they can paddle and play near the weir. Here’s some specific guidance on swimming safely in weirs.
Location Map
Parking Map
Facilities: The Bathamptom Mill
There’s a shallow part of the river by Tithe Barn with sloped access & fun stepping stones, perfect for little ones. It opens up & gets deeper down stream for more of a swim. Also a good entry point for a SUP or kayak.
Location Map
Parking Map Baileys Barn or Frome Road
Facilities: The Coffee Barn cafe & an ice cream van in warmer months
There’s a beautiful shallow brook, perfect for little ones to poke a stick in, throw rocks & playing pooh-sticks from the bridge. There’s a great pond if you have a net and there’s also a river at the end which is much wider and deeper. There’s an entry point for swimmers or a rope swing to launch you in.
Location Map
Parking Map
Facilities: The Birdhouse Cafe
Chippenham Splash Pad
John Coles park has a great splash pad, perfect for water play during the summer months. It’s also beside a huge playground and park.
Location Map
Parking Map
Facilities: Cafe beside the splash pad
Corston has a vast grassy playing field with a small playground with wooden structures and swings. Follow a path that winds down through wild grasses and into the woods and you’ll come to a brook gently meandering through the wilderness with shallow paddling spots.
Location Map
Parking Map
Facilities: Newton St. Loe cafe is a short drive away
Horsecombe Brook Woods
This spot is a bit more remote & wild. Accessed through the woods, you descend steeply through the woods to a very shallow stream. A lovely shady spot for the little ones to splash about, build a dam or poke a stick. One of my favourites.
Location Map Access the footpath to the brook from
Parking Beechwood Road or Castle Farm Midford
Facilities: Castle Farm Midford
Kingsgate Park Water Feature
Kingsgate is perhaps known for its big playground with a great treetop walkway but there’s also a discreet area with a water channel play feature where little ones can dam the water & splash about.
Location Map
Parking Map
Facilities: Vintage Birdcage Cakery
Melksham Splash Pad
We love this splash pad which has water pistols and a big water mushroom. It’s also beside a huge playground and across the field is a great zip line.
Location Map
Parking Map
Facilities: The cafe is right beside the splash pad
The children’s playground has a man made water channel running through the entire length of the park. There’s bridges, ropes & dams to play with, plus all the usual playground fun.
Location Map
Parking Map
Facilities: On sunny days an ice cream van or The Grumpy Baker is nearby
Oldbury Court Country Park
This is a beautiful paved walk with a number of access points to the river. A popular spot with a few rope swings rigged up & some sloped shallow sections for the younger ones. Lovely & shady too.
Location Map
Parking Snuff Mills Map or Oldbury Court Car Park
Facilities: The Chalet Tea Garden or Oldbury Court Kiosk
Sydney Gardens Playground Water Feature
The most sparkly new addition to Bath’s playground scene is Sydney Gardens playground, featuring an already firm favourite water feature. Two small fountains can be pressed to spurt water down channels through the sandpit. Brilliant for little ones.
Location Map
Parking Map
Cafe: The Garden Cafe
Warminster Splash Pad
Another recent addition opened in May 2022 is a spaced themed splash pad. It boasts a number of water features including a semi-circular area with a sluice gate allowing the children to dam the water to create a paddling area. You can also hire a rowing boat on the lake nearby.
Location Map
Parking Map
Cafe: The Pavilion Cafe