9 Water Parks In Essex To Cool Down At This Summer!

There aren’t a huge amount of water parks in Essex, but there are a few options for ways to cool down this summer! Essex doesn’t have any large water parks in the traditional sense, but there are some smaller parks. From splash parks to indoor pools and inflatable water parks, here are some Essex water parks that you may enjoy. As with all water activities, please make sure to observe any rules that are put in place for your safety.

Water Parks in Essex

*Times and prices may vary depending on day of the week and off peak/peak times. Due to the nature of outdoor water parks, many are only open for the summer season between May to September. Check websites for full information and book online to avoid disappointment*

Splash Parks

Maldon Splash Park – Maldon

🗺Promenade Park, Park Dr, Maldon CM9 5JQ

🕚10.30am – 5pm

💰£3.35 per session (30 minutes)

Splash parks are aimed at younger visitors. They are often zero depth and have various structures and sprinkles that spray out water! Children can then walk through the fountains and splash around in the water. Maldon Promenade Park has a splash park that has 30 minute sessions which equals around 20 minutes of water time. It’s quite a short session but there’s not a huge amount to do without the splash park.

There are many other activities at Maldon Promenade Park such as: mini golf, playgrounds, a small man-made sand beach, a petting zoo, a skatepark and plenty of open space for ball games etc. Public toilets are right next to the splash park and plenty of food and drink outlets are nearby.

The Pavilion Water Park – Clacton

🗺Clacton Pavilion, Marine Parade W, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 1QX

🕚10am until close

💰12yrs and under – £6.99 per session (1.5-2hr depending on time). £3.99 Monday to Friday during off peak days.

Clacton Pavilion is located on top of the hill above Clacton Pier. They have a little water park with dump buckets and small water slides. The water is a little deeper than that at the Maldon Splash Park. It’s aimed for children 12 and under and with every child wristband, it includes an adult for free. There are a few sun loungers available. Sessions last between 1.5 – 2 hours, depending on the time of day (10am until 12pm is the longest session).

After spending time at the water park, there are plenty of attractions to enjoy either at the Pavilion or down on the pier. The beach is close by and you’ll find many different places to eat and drink. You can find things to do in Clacton in this post.

Splash Fountains – Southend

🗺37 Marine Parade, Southend-on-Sea SS1 2EL

💰Free

The splash fountains along Marine Parade in Southend aren’t exactly a water park, however kids love to run through them! Being close to the beach, many kids are already dressed to get wet and the fountains are a different option to the sea! They randomly change heights and at night they light up. The fountains are close to public toilets and food outlets. A short walk away is the 3 Shells Beach and Lagoon which is considered a Blue Flag Beach! The lagoon is a tidal pool without undercurrents that may be present in the normal estuary water!

Southend City Beach — City Beach fountains Southend

Adventure Island amusement park has Tidal Wave…2 water slides where you sit in a dinghy. These are the closest to the types of water slides you’ll find at a traditional large water park. However you do wear your regular clothes and they don’t end up in a pool! You will get a little bit wet on them, similar to a log flume.

Inflatable Water Parks

There has recently been an influx of inflatable water parks popping up everywhere! They are big inflatable obstacle courses usually in lakes. These are aimed at slightly older kids, as well as adults. The courses can be tough, especially when wet, and sometimes require long legs! Visitors to inflatable water parks have to wear life jackets and sometimes wetsuits are required as well. Expect to fall in, so some swimming is required to get back to rope ladders etc. My personal favourite are the large inflatable slides! Sessions run in all weather. Here are 4 inflatable Essex water parks.

(Another one can be found just across the Essex border in Hertfordshire at Lee Valley White Water Centre.)

Curve Water Sports – St Oysth

🗺Mill Dam Lake, Mill Street, St Osyth CO16 8EW

🕚10am – last session starts at 6pm

💰£20 per 1hr session (including wetsuit and life jacket)

Curve near Clacton-on-Sea, has one of the biggest inflatable water parks in Essex with 30 obstacles! As well as the water parks, there are: wake boarding sessions, tubing and stand up paddle board and kayak hire. A cafe is on-site.

Mersea Aqua Park – Mersea Island

🗺Mersea Boating Lake, Rewsalls Lane, Mersea Island, Colchester CO5 8SX

🕚10am – last session starts at 6pm

💰£6 per 1hr session (including wetsuit and life jacket)

The Mersea Aqua Park is one of the smaller water parks, but then this is also reflected in the price. It doesn’t have some of the larger obstacles that feature at some of the other parks. Other activities at Mersea Boating Lake include: stand up paddle board and kayak hire, sailing and swimming.

Aqua Park Lakeside – Grays

🗺Alexandra Lake South, Lakeside Shopping Centre, West Thurrock, Grays RM20 2AB

🕚10am – last session starts at 6.40pm

💰£20 per 1hr session (including life jacket but NOT wetsuits)

Aqua Park Lakeside is another large water park with 30 obstacles including large slides and monkey bars. The session price doesn’t include the use of a wetsuit. Wetsuits aren’t a requirement, you can wear normal swim wear (under the life jacket), bring your own wetsuit or buy one from the aqua park. Adult wetsuits are £29.99 and kids sizes are £19.99.

The Aqua Park is located at Lakeside Shopping Centre so it’s very close to the shops, restaurants and other activities such as: mini golf, rock climbing, cinema, trampoline park a more.

Festival Wakeboard & Aqua Park – Basildon

🗺Waterfront Walk, Basildon SS14 3DG

🕚10am -4pm (closed Monday and Tuesday)

💰£20 per 1hr session + £2 for grip socks which can be used on return visits (wetsuit hire additional £5)

Festival Aqua Park is a medium sizes water park with 14 obstacles including inflatable slides. All visitors are expected to buy (or bring their own) grip socks which can then be used for return visits. I’ve been on aqua parks before and they are VERY slippery. The socks give slightly better grip, making it easier to climb and walk on the obstacles. Wetsuits aren’t included as part of the session prices but they can be hired for an additional £5.

The aqua park is suitable for people aged 6 and up and is open between 10am – 4pm (closed Mondays and Tuesdays). There’s also cable wake boarding on site, which is open between 11am – 7pm and a cafe.

Indoor Water Parks

Leisure World – Colchester

🗺Colchester Leisure World, Cowdray Ave, Colchester CO1 1YH

🕚10.15am – 6/6.10pm (flumes on after 15.30pm Mon – Fri and all day Sat/Sun)

💰£6.95 per session (approx 1hr 10 during restrictions)

If you’re looking for a year-round indoor water park in Essex, Leisure World in Colchester is a great option! They have 2 flumes, a lazy river, a couple of hot tubs and a small pool with slides and water features. My personal favourite is the rapids, which starts outside of the building and has a slide that finishes in a whirlpool back inside the building! (Currently closed, but must be a strong swimmer). The flumes are only on during peak times, such as after 15.30pm Monday to Friday and all day during school breaks, Saturdays and Sundays. A peak time session costs £6.95 per person and sessions last around 1hr 10.

Leisure World also has regular swimming pools and a gym. For the adults, next door is Aqua Springs which has various steam rooms and saunas, as well as hot tubs and hydrotherapy pools. Spa treatments are also available.

Bonus Outdoor Swimming Pool

Brightlingsea Lido

🗺Promenade Way, Brightlingsea, Colchester CO7 0HH

🕚Times vary depending on the day, open between 7.30am – 7.30pm

💰Half day session: Adults (18-64yrs) £4.85, Child (2-17yrs) £3.85

Not quite a water park, but a fun outdoor swimming summer option is the Brightlingsea Lido. It dates back to the 1930s! The Lido has a 50 metre unheated pool and there’s also a toddler pool and sun loungers are available for hire. As mentioned, the pool is unheated, with the water temperature approximately 16-17c and sessions do still run in the rain. Clean wetsuits are allowed in the pool.