Stuck for something different to do? Browse below or click on a category for some inspiration.
FAMILY OUTINGS
FAMILY WALKS
FREE PLAY PARKS
ACTIVE & SPORT
RAINY DAY IDEAS
SOFT PLAY
TODDLER TRIPS
SWIMMING POOLS
FAMILY OUTINGS
FAMILY WALKS
FREE PLAY PARKS
ACTIVE & SPORT
RAINY DAY IDEAS
SOFT PLAY
TODDLER TRIPS
SWIMMING POOLS
Be inspired
In this section:- Places to visit by type
Family Outings
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Odds Farm
Odds farm is a large children’s farm and play center. In addition to all the animals there are many different play areas offering varied play both inside and outside. There is a sandpit area with interactive play toys, several climbing/swing/slide areas, ride on tractors as well as indoor slides and a large soft play area. […]
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Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
The Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, is a 25 acre working Steam Museum, with one of the UK’s largest collections of locomotives, rolling stock and railway memorabilia. A re-created country station in the heyday of steam travel. The center puts on special days such as ‘a day out with Thomas’ where children can ride on the trains. […]
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Bekonscot Model Village
Bekonscot Model Village and Railway is the world’s oldest and original model village, opening for the first time in 1929. With over 80 years of history, huge model railway, 1.5 acres of well kept gardens and finely detailed model buildings Bekonscot is a great day out for everyone. Where Warwick Road, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, HP9 2PL […]
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Beale Park
Beale Park is an outdoor wildlife park about 40 mins drive from Marlow out past Reading. There is plenty enough to keep all ages of kids occupied for most of the day between the animals, play areas, large outdoor paddling pool, sand, train ride and other exhibits. It’s definitely worth the drive if you fancy a […]
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Tring Natural History Museum
Tring Natural History Museum is about a 45 minute drive from Marlow and a perfect place if you are fancying a trip out on a wet day. It’s linked with the Natural History Museum in London and is predominantly a fantastic collection of stuffed animals! It’s free to enter, buggy friendly, has a small cafe. […]
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Stonor Park
Stonor park is a beautiful country estate near Henley. It’s still lived in by the Stonor family and has been for the last 850 years! The house and grounds, gardens and views are magnificent, making it a wonderful place to hang out and explore, especially on a sunny day. At certain times of the year […]
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Dinton Pastures Country Park
Dinton Pastures Country park covers over 335 acres. The Park is open daily throughout the year.offering a variety of habitats including 7 lakes, 2 rivers, and meadows. Three public bird hides provide secret viewing of the waterfowl, with one specially adapted for wheelchair users. The highlight of the park for young children is the childrens […]
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The Living Rainforest
The Living Rainforest is an indoor activity involving walking through large green houses filled with tropical plants and animals. Paths wind through the rainforest environment passing lots of animal, plant and insect exhibits. The rainforest is home to 700 species of plants and animals including lizards, birds, butterflies, monkeys, tortoise and snakes. Where? Hampstead Norreys, […]
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The Look Out & Discovery Centre
Visiting The Look Out is a great day out, with the main attraction being the hands-on science exhibition which has over 90 hands-on activities. The Look Out is set in 1000 hectares of woodland which is owned and managed by The Crown Estate. In addition to the indoor and outdoor play areas there is mountain bike routes, bike hire […]
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Wellington Country Park
Wellington Country Park is a great park for kids only half an hour or so from Marlow. There are loads of interesting attractions and things to keep children entertained for at least half a day. Its best enjoyed when the sun is shining (like anywhere!) but there is also an indoor soft play area. Here’s […]
FREE Play Parks
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Marlow bottom park and playing fields
Marlow bottom park and playing fields are tucked away behind the main road that runs through Marlow Bottom, just off Burford Close. The park has a large fenced play area with activities suitable for toddlers and bigger kids. There is parking right next to the play area which makes it convenient to pop along when […]
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Flackwell Heath Park
Flackwell heath park is a large open space with onsite parking, a kids play area and a great natural hedge area which kids love hiding inside. From a personal perspective, i think this park is best suited to children aged about 3 and half upwards. Once they can climb the big slide themselves they will […]
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Black Park
Black Park covers over 500 acres of woodland and heathland. There are over 10 miles of well surfaced track, a large lake, cafe and woodland adventure play area. There is also a Go Ape on site and lots of organised activities running in the park. We find the park great for our 1yr old and […]
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Oaken Grove Park
Oaken Grove Park is a lovely park with an extensive play area on the Marlow side of Maidenhead. There is a cafe (open at peak times), plenty of open grassland, easy free parking, a sand pit, zip wire, small trampoline and a variety of play frames/equipment suitable for toddlers, pre-schoolers and older kids. There are […]
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Windsor ‘Changing of the Guard’ and Park trip
This trip makes an ideal FREE ‘pre school’ age child half day filler. There are lots of variants, so this is just one suggested route that a friend took me on which avoids the crowds in front of the castle. The trip includes a play in the Windsor town center park, seeing the guards trouping […]
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Fernie fields park
Fernie park is the park at Booker gym club and Judo Centre, its also called Booker recreation grounds. It’s not necessarily a place you would travel to from Marlow just for the park itself, but it’s great if you want to combine a quick park stop with going to John Lewis or any of the […]
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Hughenden Park
The Hughenden Park play area was re-opened in July 2017 after a £168k re-development. The council got local schools involved in the design stage and (I think) they have done a great job. It’s a lovely natural wooden play structure with multiple areas to suite children of all ages. Flick through the pictures above to […]
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Riverside Gardens and Park in Maidenhead
Riverside gardens and play area is a large open space that includes a large woodchip covered play area, sandpit, zip wire and playing field. There is a also a cafe, crazy golf and easy parking. There is plenty of open space for the kids to run around too. Where Riverside Gardens and play area, […]
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Higginson Park Marlow
Higginson Park is the main park in the centre of Marlow just near the bridge. The park has a large children’s playground, a great cafe, public toilets and a skate park which is open all year. There are many trees and large expanses of lawn with formal flowerbeds and a brick in grass maze, created […]
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Ockwells Park and Play Area
Ockwells park is a public open space and children’s play area with a privately run cafe and soft play. The play area is publicized as being suitable for 3 to 16yr olds although i also find it great for my 2yr old. There are large open playing fields and a small climbing wall and fitness […]
Family Walks
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Happy Valley Short Walk
Happy Valley is the locals name given to an area of countryside that sits between the Henley Road and Marlow Common. It’s rich in woodland and rolling hills making it a beautiful place to walk. There will be many routes you can explore in this area, mostly visible on google maps. This is just one […]
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Burnham Beeches
Burnham Beeches National Nature Reserve is apparently one of the best examples of ancient woodland in Britain. Famed for its beech and oak pollards – many of which are more than 400 years old. This is a really enjoyable and safe place to take the kids out to explore the countryside. Its great because the […]
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Shillingridge Woods Walk
These woods sit between the Frieth and Marlow which is a particularly hilly area with great views, making it a great family walking route. We parked at the end of Mundaydean Lane in a layby, before following the footpath into the woods. Our boys loved the woodland – it has lots of excellent places for […]
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Winter Hill Golf Course Family Walk
This is one of our fave family walks. The views across the countryside are beautiful, especially looking out over the river Thames towards Bourne End on the route back. It’s also possible to see Cliveden. The kids love taking their binoculars along on this route.Need to knowDistance: the route is approximately 2 miles long. It […]
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Marlow Rugby Club River Walk or Cycle
This is a short circular family walk in Marlow that follows the Thames path in the direction of Bourne End rather than from Higginson Park. It’s suitable for walking, cycling and taking push chairs. That said, in the wetter months the longer version of this route (see map below) get’s a bit too muddy for […]
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The Spade Oak pub little legs walk
This is a very short walk that starts and finishes at the Spade Oak pub in Bourne End. It’s perfect for little legs who like playing along the way as there is a stream for poo sticks, the river for boat spotting and ducks and the train line to watch the train go past (if you time […]
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Marlow Bottom Woods Walk
There is a stretch of woodland that sits between Marlow and Marlow Bottom. These are great for exploring with interesting trees to climb, a fab rope swing, fields and great spots for blackberry picking when they are in season. On the map below I’ve suggested one route but you can make this walk as long […]
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Turville Manor Walk
This family walk near Marlow is roughly 2 miles long and travels through fields and woodland. It starts in the lovely Turville village near the Bull and Butcher pub. Head out of the village with the pub on your left and you will pick up a footpath on your right just as you leave the […]
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Bovingdon Green Circular Walk
This walk starts from Bovingdon Green just next to the Royal Oak pub. We did it with our two boys aged 3 and 6 with no buggies or carriers. The route we took wouldn’t be suitable for a buggy as it’s quite narrow in places and has pinch points to walk through (designed to stop […]
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Black Park
Black Park covers over 500 acres of woodland and heathland. There are over 10 miles of well surfaced track, a large lake, cafe and woodland adventure play area. There is also a Go Ape on site and lots of organised activities running in the park. We find the park great for our 1yr old and […]
Rainy Day Ideas
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Playtrain
Playtrain is a large soft play center in High Wycombe, near the Handy Cross roundabout. It probably has the most varied selection of soft play entertainment near by. There is a large 2 storey slide area suitable for bigger kids, a 2 storey area suitable for slightly smaller kids plus a completely seperate area for […]
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Coral reef water world
Coral Reef is one of the largest interactive water worlds in England. It has a great range of water play facilities for all ages including a toddler zone with shallow water, mini slides and a pirate ship. There are various other Jacuzzi style pools for bigger kids and adults, an exploding volcano, lazy river and […]
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Jungle Mania
This is a large soft play facility in Bourne End. There is an enclosed football/netball area, under 4’s area with a slide and big 2 storey climbing frame/zone with a row of slides. The cafe serves hot and cold food and includes a free childrens dinner in with the entry at certain times of the […]
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Tring Natural History Museum
Tring Natural History Museum is about a 45 minute drive from Marlow and a perfect place if you are fancying a trip out on a wet day. It’s linked with the Natural History Museum in London and is predominantly a fantastic collection of stuffed animals! It’s free to enter, buggy friendly, has a small cafe. […]
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Ladds Garden Village
Ladds Garden Village is a garden centre on the A4 Reading road before Hare Hatch, about 10mins from Marlow. It’s a place i’d driven past for years without realising that inside are some great mini attractions for pre-school age children and animal lovers. The garden centre itself is not as ‘shiny’ as the Wyvales and […]
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The Living Rainforest
The Living Rainforest is an indoor activity involving walking through large green houses filled with tropical plants and animals. Paths wind through the rainforest environment passing lots of animal, plant and insect exhibits. The rainforest is home to 700 species of plants and animals including lizards, birds, butterflies, monkeys, tortoise and snakes. Where? Hampstead Norreys, […]
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Ockwells Park and Play Area
Ockwells park is a public open space and children’s play area with a privately run cafe and soft play. The play area is publicized as being suitable for 3 to 16yr olds although i also find it great for my 2yr old. There are large open playing fields and a small climbing wall and fitness […]
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Play and Bounce at Wycombe Leisure Centre
On Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings Wycombe Leisure Centre sets up a large bouncy castle style structure in the sports hall aimed at toddlers and young children. Children up to 10 yrs of age are permitted and trampolines are available on Mondays during term time. Where/When Wycombe Leisure Centre. Monday and Wednesday 9.30am – 11.30am and […]
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Henley River and Rowing Museum
Henley river and rowing museum is, as the name suggests a museum dedicated to rivers and rowing as well as the history of Henley. Whilst the museum itself is interesting, the reason for listing it here is that there is a great permanent Wind in the Willows exhibition. This brings to life the much-loved story […]
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Flowerland
Flowerland is just on the other side of Bourne End. It has everything you’d expect at a garden centre with the addition of a small but well filled reptile centre and an aquatics centre. My littlen’s shriek with excitement at seeing the snakes every time! You can also feed the Carp fish (you can buy […]
Soft Play
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Odds Farm
Odds farm is a large children’s farm and play center. In addition to all the animals there are many different play areas offering varied play both inside and outside. There is a sandpit area with interactive play toys, several climbing/swing/slide areas, ride on tractors as well as indoor slides and a large soft play area. […]
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Marlow Garden Center Soft Play
This Wyvale garden centre has a small but perfectly formed soft play area attached to a nice cafe. This garden centre is part of The Wyvale chain and has all the usual plants and outdoor living sundries you’d expect plus a pets corner. The soft play area is on 2 levels and has a ball […]
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Jungle Mania
This is a large soft play facility in Bourne End. There is an enclosed football/netball area, under 4’s area with a slide and big 2 storey climbing frame/zone with a row of slides. The cafe serves hot and cold food and includes a free childrens dinner in with the entry at certain times of the […]
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Ockwells Park and Play Area
Ockwells park is a public open space and children’s play area with a privately run cafe and soft play. The play area is publicized as being suitable for 3 to 16yr olds although i also find it great for my 2yr old. There are large open playing fields and a small climbing wall and fitness […]
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Play and Bounce at Wycombe Leisure Centre
On Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings Wycombe Leisure Centre sets up a large bouncy castle style structure in the sports hall aimed at toddlers and young children. Children up to 10 yrs of age are permitted and trampolines are available on Mondays during term time. Where/When Wycombe Leisure Centre. Monday and Wednesday 9.30am – 11.30am and […]
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Cheeky Charlies
Cheeky Charlies is a standard soft play center based at the Magnet Leisure Centre in Maidenhead. Here’s what they say about themselves. “Here at Cheeky Charlie’s there’s plenty to do – hide in the colourful Ball Pool, containing thousands of balls! Weave your way through my Bash Balls, clamber over the Rope Bridge – squeeze […]
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Playtrain
Playtrain is a large soft play center in High Wycombe, near the Handy Cross roundabout. It probably has the most varied selection of soft play entertainment near by. There is a large 2 storey slide area suitable for bigger kids, a 2 storey area suitable for slightly smaller kids plus a completely seperate area for […]
Active & Sport
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Bike ride to the Olde Bell pub in Hurley
This is one of our favorite family activities on a nice day. We’ve done this route with our boys from them sitting on the back of our bikes, to on tag alongs and now our 5yr can ride the route on his own. From Higginson park we pick up the tow path and cycle all […]
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Hurley Lock
Hurley Lock is a lock on the river Thames just past Temple Lock and before Hambledon Lock. The unique position of the lock means that it situation between a clump of wooden islands close to Hurley village. On one of the islands there are picnic facilities and a gradual incline into shallow water making it […]
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Marlow Rugby Club River Walk or Cycle
This is a short circular family walk in Marlow that follows the Thames path in the direction of Bourne End rather than from Higginson Park. It’s suitable for walking, cycling and taking push chairs. That said, in the wetter months the longer version of this route (see map below) get’s a bit too muddy for […]
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Windsor Park Family Bike ride
Windsor Great Park is vast and provides excellent easy safe off road cycling amongst beautiful countryside. This is one easy to follow family bike ride route that we have done several times. The map below shows you roughly where we went, but it’s pretty easy to navigate without a map as you follow a tarmac […]
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Harleyford Lane Family Bike Ride
This is one of our go-to easy family bike rides when we want a hassle free/quick trip out. It heads up Pound Lane and along the side of the Henley Road for just a few metres before going down Harleyford Lane and back along the tow path into Higginson Park. Check out the route below. […]
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Dinosaur Escape Adventure Golf
Dinosaur escape is a dinosaur themed adventure golf course approx 25mins drive from Malow. The dinosaurs are really large and very well presented, many move and even roar! It’s very well kept and well worth the trip there if you fancy something different.In addition to the mini golf there is a separate soft play and […]
Toddler Trips
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Booker Airfield
Booker airfield is less than a 10 minute drive from Marlow and offers a great mini trip out for aeroplane inquisitive kids. You are generally able to see helicopters and small aeroplanes very close up as they take off and land. There is a small cafe with an outside area for viewing the planes. Where/When […]
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Bisham Woods
Bisham woods is on the way towards Cookham when travelling from Marlow. These woods offer all of the usual natural woodland features you’d expect in the woods from logs to walk along and dens to rope swings. There is also an abundance of sticks and trees to hit them against! You can park for free […]
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Marlow Garden Center Soft Play
This Wyvale garden centre has a small but perfectly formed soft play area attached to a nice cafe. This garden centre is part of The Wyvale chain and has all the usual plants and outdoor living sundries you’d expect plus a pets corner. The soft play area is on 2 levels and has a ball […]
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Grove Riding School
Grove Riding School sits between Marlow and High Wycombe and is home to a very large number of riding stable and privately owned horses. I’m listing it here as a ‘mini trip’ with your young child to see and experience the horses rather than as a place to come and ride (although it is a […]
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Marlow Common Woods
Marlow Common is a an area of woodland near Marlow town center that makes a perfect place for a walk and play for children of all ages. The area was an old WW1 training ground so there are lots of bunkers for exploring as well rope swings, dens and an abundance of fallen logs. There […]
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Ladds Garden Village
Ladds Garden Village is a garden centre on the A4 Reading road before Hare Hatch, about 10mins from Marlow. It’s a place i’d driven past for years without realising that inside are some great mini attractions for pre-school age children and animal lovers. The garden centre itself is not as ‘shiny’ as the Wyvales and […]
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Flowerland
Flowerland is just on the other side of Bourne End. It has everything you’d expect at a garden centre with the addition of a small but well filled reptile centre and an aquatics centre. My littlen’s shriek with excitement at seeing the snakes every time! You can also feed the Carp fish (you can buy […]
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Marlow bottom park and playing fields
Marlow bottom park and playing fields are tucked away behind the main road that runs through Marlow Bottom, just off Burford Close. The park has a large fenced play area with activities suitable for toddlers and bigger kids. There is parking right next to the play area which makes it convenient to pop along when […]
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Henley River and Rowing Museum
Henley river and rowing museum is, as the name suggests a museum dedicated to rivers and rowing as well as the history of Henley. Whilst the museum itself is interesting, the reason for listing it here is that there is a great permanent Wind in the Willows exhibition. This brings to life the much-loved story […]
Swimming Pools
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Windsor Swimming Pool
There are pools to suit all the family’s needs and a variety of sessions, there is something for everyone. There is a 25 metre 6 lane Fitness Pool, Leisure Pool with wave machine, Giant Slides, water features and Spa Pool. The shallow area provides interactive water play and a mini toddler slide. There also a […]
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Marlow Court Gardens Swimming Pool
The Court Garden Leisure Complex in Marlow has a small swimming pool that is 15m long and 0.9m to 1.4m deep. It is usually kept around 30 degrees Celsius. This is an ideal pool for babies as there is just the one small pool it is often quiet unlike some of the larger pools in […]
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High Wycombe Leisure Centre
High Wycombe swimming pool is based near the Cressex roundabout and is part of a large leisure centre complex. There are 2 pools. The main pool is 50m long and suitable for older children whilst the smaller teaching pool is better for younger children as its quieter and warmer. There is a splash area next […]
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Wycombe Rye Lido
Wycombe Rye Lido is a leisure center with indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools. The outdoor pool is one of few remaining outdoor swimming pools in the country and it’s heated from April to October. It has been recently refurbished. Its 33 yards in length and there is also a separate shallow children’s pool. Where/when […]
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Maidenhead Leisure Centre (Magnet)
The Magnet Leisure Centre, which is run by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and has great swimming facilities for all the family including young children. There is 25m 8 lane competition pool as well as a leisure pool (known as the teaching the pool) Spa pools and water features including slides. Younger children […]
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Coral reef water world
Coral Reef is one of the largest interactive water worlds in England. It has a great range of water play facilities for all ages including a toddler zone with shallow water, mini slides and a pirate ship. There are various other Jacuzzi style pools for bigger kids and adults, an exploding volcano, lazy river and […]
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