While we haven’t got the weather for outdoor waterparks just yet, there are plenty of indoor alternatives in the UK where the kids can blow off some steam.
And you might not have to travel as far as you think for tropical temperatures. The UK’s largest waterpark, The Sandcastle, in Blackpool is roughly a 90-minute drive from West Yorkshire.
The hugely popular attraction boasts more than 18 slides including water chutes, fun pools, a wave machine and so much more, Manchester Evening News reports.
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Admission includes Hyperzone wristbands, which gives you access to the park’s five white knuckle rides – Aztec Falls, Montazooma, Sidewinder, Masterblaster and Duelling Dragons as well as all other attractions.
Desperate to check out whether The Sandcastle Waterpark lives up to it’s glowing reviews, Manchester Evening News parents editor, Emma Gill, headed there with her son and his friends to find out. Read her review below.
The Masterblaster is the UK’s longest indoor rollercoaster waterslide and the world’s first uphill water rollercoaster and totals 250 metres in length. Water injection technology propels raft riders at high speeds up steep inclines and down big dips. The slide snakes its way out of the building onto the resort’s Promenade before ‘crashing back in again’.
The boys loved the Sidewinder, where you can go alone or as a pair, and experience an almost vertical drop into the half pipe ride.
But their favourite was Aztec Falls, which is another single or double rider, and sees you drop in complete darkness into ‘the whirling chasm of the Aztec Bowl’. Kids can enjoy two of the thrill rides – Duelling Dragons and Sidewinder – from the age of six (and 1.1m tall), although six to eight year olds should be accompanied by an adult for their first go on the latter.
For the other three white knuckle rides, they need to be eight and 1.2m tall. Under 12s must be supervised by an adult in the waterpark, with a ratio of one adult to two children, or one-to-one if the child is three or younger.
There’s lots for younger kids to enjoy too, including the Typhoon Lagoon wave pool, which is open to all ages as long as non swimmers and non confident swimmers are accompanied and wearing armbands. The same applies to the Ushi Cushi River Creek, a family favourite where the flowing waters of the action river pull you along.
There are other rides and chutes for the ages in between too. Three hours was plenty of time to enjoy it all, but try telling a group of 12 and 13 year olds that. They just didn’t want to leave.
Of course you may think a waterpark is the last place you want to be, especially during the colder months. But it’s all set in a tropical 29°C climate, which is a hell of a lot warmer than the Fylde coast – and Manchester for that matter – at this time of year.
That’s probably why, after being closed for six weeks or so, as it does each November and December, the place is ready to reopen to excited visitors from December 27. Tickets cost from £15 for younger children up to the age of seven, £20 for ages 8 to 11, and £24 for ages 12 plus and adults. For seniors 60 plus and carers, it’s £15. Book via the website.
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