Swimming is often a go-to activity during school holidays and weekends as there is lots of fun to be had and energy burnt, whatever the weather!! Here are lots of options within an hours drive (ish) of Doncaster.
Right on our doorstep, we’re lucky to have this so close. Read our Mumbler Review here .
If you want flumes, this is your place to go!
Swimming in The Lagoons (7 interlinked pools) at the Dome is fun for all of the family, from parents with toddlers, to teens and tweens who want the fun packed action of the big slides! The slides include The Falls, Serpent and The Blackhole, children have to be 1.2 meters tall to use the slides.
There is a lovely, quieter paddling area for little ones behind the slides, which has a little climbing frame, plus jets of water and fountains that are fascinating for babies and toddlers. There is a larger pool for some proper swimming and then there is an area which has fountains, jets, airbeds and a hot tub, plus an outside area with rapids if you’re brave enough in this weather – although it is heated!
There are plenty of family changing rooms, you need a £1 for the locker system.
Price: Book online for these cheaper prices Adult £7.50,Junior £5.50, Infant under 3 £3.00 (Updated March 2022)
Book Big Splash and Ice Skating in one day and save 20% on your ticket.
The new Herten Triangle restaurants are now re-open across from the Dome, including Dunkin Donuts, TGI Fridays, Taco Bell, Estabulo and more brilliant places to eat.
Doncaster Lakeside, Bawtry Rd, Doncaster, DN4 7PD
NEW for 2022 extra powerful wave machine, faster lazy river and new baby pool slide and interactive wall.
The leisure pool re-opened on January 31 2022 and has had a £500,000 revamp which also includes a disability-friendly pool with custom-built hoist.
There is also a main 50 metre pool. (Ponds Forge will host the 2022 British Swimming championships in April)
Prices: £6 adults and £3 juniors, £1 for under 3’s.
It’s in the middle of Barnsley. We have been a few times and it is a bit hidden away down a back street, so maybe use the sat nav.
There are 3 big slides* (Terror Torrent, Eruption, Kraken) only Eruption has a 1.2 metre height restriction (there is a drop into a deep pool at the end so advisable only for strong swimmers) and then a slalom slide which the younger ones can also use (either on their own or with you). There is also a wave pool, a normal pool and a diving pool with 3 different heights of diving board. (You can even watch them dive into the pool from an underwater viewing area!)
There is a brand new area for younger children, Barnacle Bay. The pool is shallow and there are lots of water features, a mini slide, a submarine to play in and lots of squirting water!! In the main pool there is a Pirate Ship which has a slide coming from it and water cannons to squirt! We also spent time in the main pool practising swimming and jumping in.
There is a large mixed gender changing area, lockers (you need a £1) and showers but these got very busy.
You can either pay for a 1.5 or 3 hour swim, we found that 1.5 hours was plenty especially for the youngest Mini Mumbler.
Calypso Cove is part of the larger leisure complex at the Metrodome and there is also a bowling alley, restaurants and games area. There is lots of free parking available.
Make sure you check the admissions policy before visiting regarding adult: child ratio.
Price: 1.5-hour family swim (without priority booking) is £32. (updated March 2022)
Metrodome Leisure Complex, Queens Ground, Queens Road, Barnsley, S71 1AN
*On the large slides adults are not allowed to ride with children
See swimming sessions for all DCLT Leisure Centres here including Adwick Leisure Centre, Armthorpe Leisure Centre, Askern Leisure Centre, Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Edlington Community Swimming Pool, Rossington Community Swimming Pool and Thorne Leisure Centre.
See swimming sessions for all North Lincolnshire Leisure Centres here including Ancholme Leisure Centre, Axholme North Leisure Centre, Baysgarth Leisure Centre, Riddings Pool, The Pods.
Try Rotherham Leisure Complex or Ponds Forge, Sheffield. (If you’d like to provide a Mumbler review for these places, get in touch!)
North Leeds Mumbler visited. Here is their review…
“The Splash Park is ideal for all ages and is a nice size meaning that if you have confident swimmers you can see them on most parts of the splash park. A key point to note is the two main slides have a height requirement of 1.2metre and they are strict on this. The Splash Park operates a band system which gives you 90 minutes to enjoy the park but also means it is never too busy.
The Splash Park has a fun pool for the younger ones which is warmer than the main pool and has a few ‘animals’ which the children can sit and slide on.
In the main pool there is a lazy river, toddler area with slide, “things” to turn and twist and a water bucket. There are two slides (a water flume and Slidewinder) which you ride in inflatable rings (single and double), three water guns and an area where you can have free play. We have been to a few “Waterparks” when on holiday and both my husband and daughter have not stopped talking about the Sidewinder! It doesn’t look that much from the ground but apparently, it feels almost vertical when you go down it!
One thing to note is there is a lot of squirting water, my two wanted their goggles on! Apparently included in your entrance there is also another pool where you can do length swimming but we never made this!
There is also a great little viewing area which means that swimming with adults isn’t a necessity if your children are competent and confident swimmers. (Check admission policy of child: adult ratio before visiting.)
There are a cafe and snack bar (open when cafe shuts) on-site for refreshments. There are other activities including climbing and soft play as part of the Leisure Centre if you wanted to make a day of it.”
** Check timetable for Splash Park before visiting as Huddersfield school holidays can be different to Doncaster.
If you fancy a drive to the coast, Alpamere at the North Bay in Scarborough gets great reviews on our sister site Scarborough Mumbler. The waterpark includeds four slides, wave pool, splash and play zone and outdoor heated pools! Bridlington Leisure Centre has a great splash zone with two slides and an interactive waterplay structure.
There is also Waterworld, which we have intended visiting for a while. The UK’s No.1 tropical indoor aqua park is located at the Waterworld Leisure Resort, in the heart of the Midlands, Stoke-on-Trent! Open all year round, Waterworld Aqua Park is an epic adventure for the whole family to enjoy, with over 30 different rides and attractions including Thunderbolt, the UK’s first trap door drop waterslide!
There are also some great deals at Splash Landings – Alton Towers Waterpark
