With temperatures rising you may be wondering where you can go in and around Harpenden to cool off?  Here’s some ideas. Please take appropriate care and judgement around natural waterways as the situation can vary from day to day and change without warning.

Parts of the River Lea at Batford Springs are ideal for paddling in. There are lots of shallow areas, stepping stones and waterfalls - take care as some are stronger then others. This is a popular spot in the warm weather.  There’s plenty of grassy areas for a picnic and of course there’s the recently refurbished “pirate park”.

Heading further down the River Lea towards Wheathampstead, if you follow the Lee Valley Line cycle path (there’s an entrance point at the Amble Inn) you will come across Willow Trees Cafe at Croft Farm. In the past it has been possible to access the river here and it is usually shallow enough for the kids to paddle. We haven’t visited in a while to confirm this but you can definitely enjoy a lovely coffee and cake by the river in the shade of the trees!

Verulamium Park has a free, drop-in Toddler Splash Park open during the summer holidays. The park also has a newly-refurbished play area, trampolines and adventure golf to enjoy while you are waiting, or after. As well as the Inn on the Park for refreshments.

There’s  Splash Park at Stanborough Lakes. It’s free and you can just turn up, though on busy days you may have to queue as numbers will be managed. Note that you will have to pay for parking.

Or there is also a splash pad at Morris Way Playing Ground in London Colney.

There are paddling pools at Cassiobury Park in Watford and you can also paddle in the River Gade by the rustic bridge.  Read our article about visiting Cassiobury Park written a few years ago.  Our top tip on a busy day is to get there early for the parking!

Gadebridge Park in Hemel Hempstead also has a free splash park.  

Hemel Hempstead Leisure Centre has heated outdoor pools - a main pool and a kids paddling pool with fountains, plus picnic benches with parasols. Hitchin also has an outdoor pool with sun loungers around the outside.
If your children are too old for the splash parks or you want to keep out of the sun try Oasis Beach Pool in Bedford. It’s an indoor pool with slides and waves and it does have a lazy river which is outdoors. Read about our visit a couple years ago. (Please note that it has had work done since our visit so there may be some changes.)

And of course there’s our very own lovely pool in Harpenden Leisure Centre, though there’s no outdoor section to the pool any more, but at least you can cool off without the risk of sunburn!

For a traditional summer water activity,

For something more adventurous with older children and teens take a look at some of the aqua parks nearby like Box End Aqua Park (read about our visit) or H2O Rampage (read about our visit) near Ware, Lee Valley White Water Centre or Willen Lake in Milton Keynes.

If messing about on the river or the lake is more your thing then you can hire you can hire a pedalo on the lake at Wardown Park in Luton. or a boat at the Lee Valley Boat Centre or you could try the Canoe Trail at Bedford, which we visited and reviewed a few years ago.

Have fun, and stay cool!

NOTE: We used to include Ruislip Lido, a reservoir in north London with a sandy beach, children’s play area and railway, here, however there is currently no swimming permitted for safety reasons.