40 awesome swimming pools with wave machines
Louisa Sherlock
Contributing EditorSwimming with the kids is fun. But going to a pool with a wave machine is REALLY fun. We’ve done the searching for you and found some of the best child-friendly wave pools across the UK. Ready, steady, surf!
This page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.
Due to COVID-19 measures and restrictions, some or all pools may be temporarily closed. We recommend checking the individual swimming pool's website or giving them a quick call to double-check it's open before going.
What kit should you bring?
A swimming bag: this waterproof one separates dry from wet clothing and is available at Amazon.
Arm bands: these best-selling ones can be purchased at Amazon.
Portable changing mat: This one can roll up and is made from waterproof fabric. You can find it here at Amazon.
A towel: This 100% cotton one features a cosy hood and has UPF 50+ protection. Get it here at Amazon.
Swimming goggles: your little one can get exploring underwater with these anti-fog and UV-protective ones that are available at Amazon.
Extra swimsuit: This one is UPF 50+ and has a handy zipper. You can find it at Amazon in many colourways and designs.
Shampoo and body wash: Choose a 2-in-1 formula like this one from Weleda that can be found at Amazon.
Southern England
1. Britannia Leisure Centre, Hackney, London
Who needs the seaside when you can enjoy a surf in the city?
Take the kids to Britannia Leisure Centre in Hackney, London for the fun family wave sessions.
2. Rivermead Leisure Complex, Reading, Berkshire
Take the kids to Rivermead Leisure Complex and jump the waves during the Swim For All and Swim For Families sessions.
3. The Wave, Bristol
The Wave in Bristol is your go-to destination if you want a family surf session! There are 1,000 waves of varying sizes and shapes every hour – from 50cm to 1.8m.
4. Waterfront Leisure Centre, Woolwich, London
Ride the waves at Waterfront Leisure Centre in east London.
The pool offers Wet n Wild sessions, perfect for families.
5. Guildford Spectrum, Guildford, Surrey
There’s a huge water park for kids at Guildford Spectrum.
It includes slides, a wave machine, a pirate ship and baby and toddler splash areas.
6. Latchmere Leisure Centre, Battersea, London
Latchmere Leisure Centre has a beach-effect leisure pool complete with wave machine and slides.
Perfect for a day out on the ‘beach’… without even leaving London.
7. Pool in the Park, Woking, Surrey
Book in for a wave session at Woking’s Pool in the Park.
The pool also has some awesome flumes worth checking out while you’re there.
8. Bude Leisure Centre, Bude, Cornwall
Too cold or rainy for the beach? Then head inside to Bude Leisure Centre for a swim and a surf, courtesy of the centre’s wave machine.
9. Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre, Chiswick, London
Looking for a swimming pool with a wave machine in the Capital?
Head to Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre, which also has a water slide for your kids to enjoy.
10. Waves Leisure Centre, Torquay, Devon
With a name like Waves Leisure Centre, it’s no surprise one of the main attractions of this Devon swimming pool is a wave machine.
There are also water flumes and a water activity centre, including fill ‘n’ spill buckets and water wheels.
11. Bexhill Leisure Pool, East Sussex
Bexhill Leisure Pool has a 25-metre swimming pool complete with beach area and a wave machine.
Perfect for surfing the waves, all year round.
12. Ships and Castles Leisure Centre, Falmouth, Cornwall
Have a family swim with a difference at the Ships and Castles Leisure Centre.
Check the timetable for when the wave machine is running – then jump in and enjoy the swell!
13. Didcot Wave Leisure Centre, Oxfordshire
Didcot Wave Leisure Centre is a great swimming pool for families.
And no surprise given its name, it has a wave machine as well as an indoor flume ride and a tropical beach area.
14. Windsor Leisure Centre, Berkshire
Listen out for the ‘Storm Warning’…
Windsor Leisure Centre’s leisure pool has a fantastic wave machine for your kids (and let's be honest, you!) to enjoy.
There are also giant slides, an interactive water play feature and a spa pool.
Northern England and Yorkshire
15. Sandcastle Water Park, Blackpool, Lancashire
Ride the waves in the Typhoon Lagoon wave pool at Blackpool’s Sandcastle Water Park.
For even more fun, don’t miss the water slide, waterfall and water chutes.
16. Hyde Leisure Centre, Oldham, Greater Manchester
The water temperature at Hyde Leisure Centre is a tropical 31 degrees – perfect for your kids.
Check out the ‘Swim, Slide and Waves’ sessions, including a wave machine, Red Ripster aqua slide, water cannons and geysers.
17. Calypso Cove Water Park, Barnsley, Yorkshire
Calypso Cove is a brilliant day out for the whole family.
Why not book in for a three-hour swim session and make the most of the water flumes, interactive splash area … and of course the awesome wave machine.
18. Life Leisure Barrow Park, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Heated to a toasty 29 degrees all year round, the Park Leisure Centre has a wave machine, water cannons and a brilliant 20-meter water slide.
19. Keswick Leisure Pool, Keswick, Cumbria
Keswick Leisure Pool is a great day out for your family, whatever the weather.
Enjoy the water slide and wave machine… or just have a splash about with your kids.
20. Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
At Ponds Forge swimming pool there's something for all the family.
Choose from two water flumes, a lazy river, and, of course, a wave machine.
Eastern England
21. Cascades Leisure Centre, Gravesend, Kent
Enjoy the beach-style pool at Cascades Leisure Centre, which has tropical water heated to 30 degrees.
Features include a small splash pool with elephant slide for babies, a cascading water fall, water jets, a wave machine and two water slides – the Typhoon and the Twister.
22. Kingfisher Leisure Centre, Sudbury, Suffolk
Looking for a fun afternoon with the family?
Suffolk's Kingfisher Leisure Centre has wave sessions in its leisure pool, so book in and enjoy the surf!
23. Crown Pools, Ipswich, Suffolk
There are waves a plenty at Crown Pools in Ipswich.
The wave machine runs every 20 minutes during the family swim sessions, so there's plenty of opportunity to make the most of the swell.
24. The Swallows Leisure Centre, Sittingbourne, Kent
Head to the Swallows Leisure Centre for a fun-filled family day out.
Splash about in the awesome wave machine before enjoying the leisure pool, which also has a beach area and water flumes.
25. Colchester Leisure World, Colchester, Essex
Colchester Leisure World is the ideal destination for family fun in the waves. And when you've finished in the surf, don't miss the fun slides and Castaway Pool bubbles, ideal for toddlers.
26. Splashes Leisure Pool, Gillingham, Kent
Your kids will love the wave machine at Splashes Leisure Pool.
There’s also a water flume, toddler pool and the leisure centres run ‘splashacise’ exercise sessions, too.
Midlands
27. Water World, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
If you're in Staffordshire, check out Water World in Stoke.
From ripples to breakers, there are waves to suit all ages and swimming abilities.
28. Crystal Leisure Centre, Stourbridge, West Midlands
The leisure pool at Crystal Leisure Centre has a host of water features including a wave machine, rapids and waterfalls.
Ideal for a fun family swim.
29. The Wave, Coventry, West Midlands
The UK's biggest wave pool (opened October 2019) is NOT to be missed.
The Wave in Coventry promises to churn 20 million litres of water a day in its wave pool. Now that's some serious surf!
30. Cocksmoor Woods Leisure Centre, Birmingham,West Midlands
If you’re looking to brave the waves with your kids, head to Cocksmoor Woods Leisure Centre.
Not only is there a wave machine, there are also water slides and a toddler pool.
31. Leicester Leys Leisure Centre, Leicestershire
If you’re looking for a swimming pool with a wave machine in Leicestershire, head to Leicester Leys Leisure Centre.
The leisure pool also has two flume rides, an activity pool and a toddler and baby pool.
32. Water Meadows Swimming and Fitness, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
The wave machine at Water Meadows Swimming and Fitness runs twice an hour with different patterns – will you be surf breakers or just jump about in the swell?
Wales
33. Blue Lagoon Waterpark, Bluestone National Park, Pembrokeshire
Take a family trip to Blue Lagoon Waterpark.
The leisure centre in Bluestone National Park also features a lazy river, indoor and outdoor rapids and a toddler pool.
34. The LC, Swansea
The LC in Swansea is the largest indoor waterpark in Wales.
Ride the Masterblaster – the ultimate white-knuckle rollercoaster waterslide – or simply float around the lazy river.
And no visit would be complete without braving the waves in the LC’s famous wave pool.
35. Llanishen Leisure Centre, Cardiff
There's guaranteed family fun at the Llanishen Leisure Centre thanks to a wave machine and fountain.
Check the website for the family and toddler swim sessions.
Scotland
36. Waterfront Leisure Complex, Greenock, Inverclyde
Float around in the lazy river, zoom down the water flumes… or have fun in the wave pool at Waterfront Leisure Complex.
There’s also a tyre ride and a designated children’s pool for your kids to enjoy.
37. Time Capsule Water Park, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire
There are two swimming pools at the Time Capsule – the SwimZone and the fun-filled Waterworld.
These include flumes and a volcano along with river rapids and River of Life. And the main attraction? The Tsunami wave pool… are you ready to brave the Tsunami?
38. Inverness Leisure, Highlands
Splash about in the family pool at Inverness Leisure.
There’s a huge wave pool, along with a river complete with jets and geysers. Take your pick from three flume rides and an outdoor pool.
Northern Ireland
39. Shankill Leisure Centre, Belfast
Enjoy the wave sessions at Shankill Leisure Centre in Belfast.
And when you're all surfed out, sit back and relax in the chilled out beach area.
40. Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex, County Down
Aurora Splash Leisure Waters in Bangor has two large water flumes, a baby beach and a pirate ship.
And when your kids have made the most of all the water features, they can enjoy the brilliant wave machine.
Do your kids love nothing more than splashing around in a pool? Check out more great spots in the UK, and share your faves over on our forum below:
Related stories
Top 21 swimming pools with water slides and flumes
CHAT: Taking two children swimming
Free family fun - 50 rainy day activity ideas for kids
