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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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 trooping […]
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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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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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Mill Meadows Henley
Mill Meadows is the name of the lovely Henley playground and park near the town centre which is over looks the River Thames. There are two play grounds, one more traditional metal equipment and rubber matting flooring style and the other a wooden adventure playground with zip wire.The playgrounds themselves are set amongst some landscaped […]
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Denham Country Park
Denham Country park covers 69 acres of land and includes a nature reserve, two rivers and a stretch of the Grand Union Canal. There is an adventure playground, cafe and lots of footpaths and tracks suitable for walking, buggies or bikes. Along the marked nature trail track there are 10 brass rubbings which our kids enjoyed. […]
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Pinewood Adventure Park
Pinewood Park is part of the Pinewood Centre which offers lots of different kids afterschool clubs from Judo and gymnastics to scouts and dance. It takes roughly 25 minutes to drive there from Marlow. There are two adventure playgrounds, one wooden rustic style and the other more traditional. We had thought that the more traditional […]
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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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Cotswold Wildlife Park
The Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens has loads of animals for children to enjoy seeing all set within 160 acres of beautiful park land and gardens. You can expect to see lots of birds, mammals including lions, giraffe, elephants and rhino, primates and reptiles. Take the train ride around the wildlife park and enjoy the adventure […]
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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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4 Kingdoms Adventure Park
4 Kingdoms Adventure park has all the adventure plays areas you’d expect plus go kart racing, ride-on’s, paddle boats, train rides, tractor rides and more all at no extra cost. This brings a slightly different dynamic to some of the other adventure parks and our kids loved it! It’s really nice as a parent, not […]
FREE Play Parks
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Ray Mill Island
Ray Mill Island is a small secluded space just near Boulters Lock in Maidenhead. Although the island is very small there is plenty to see including an aviary and guinea pig enclosure, a cafe and small children’s play area and several wooden sculptures suitable for small kids to climb on and over. Alternatively sit and […]
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Wycombe Rye
Wycombe Rye is a large area of grass and park land just beyond High Wycombe town centre. There are two children’s playgrounds in the park, lots of flat grassland ideal for playing football, a café, stream and even a little waterfall and stepping stones ideal for water play in the summer.The Rye is also home […]
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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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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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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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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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Denham Country Park
Denham Country park covers 69 acres of land and includes a nature reserve, two rivers and a stretch of the Grand Union Canal. There is an adventure playground, cafe and lots of footpaths and tracks suitable for walking, buggies or bikes. Along the marked nature trail track there are 10 brass rubbings which our kids enjoyed. […]
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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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Mill Meadows Henley
Mill Meadows is the name of the lovely Henley playground and park near the town centre which is over looks the River Thames. There are two play grounds, one more traditional metal equipment and rubber matting flooring style and the other a wooden adventure playground with zip wire.The playgrounds themselves are set amongst some landscaped […]
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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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Turville Woodland Walk
We love this walk as it has great views and a mix of woodland for climbing trees/finding the best sticks and open fields to enjoy the beautiful countryside. On this particular day after finishing the walk back in Turville village, we went up to the windmill to all sit down and watch the sunset whilst […]
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Hambleden Stag and Huntsman Pub Walk
Hambleden is a beautiful village a short drive out of Marlow towards Henley. This is a short circular walk we do which is suitable for very young children who can’t walk far. It combines a stop at the Stag and Huntsman pub and is very scenic although not suitable for buggies or scooter/balance bikes. The […]
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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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Little Marlow Sailing Club Walk
There are several routes you can take starting from the Spade Oak Car park in Little Marlow, according to the length of walk you want to do. The map below shows a longer route but there is a cut through you can take to shorten it.This route is nicest in the summer months as in […]
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Turville Heath Family Walk
Turville Heath is a ‘green’ type area where The Barn Cafe can be found. This café is unique in that you cannot reach it by car. That heath is a lovely place to rest and refresh half way through a walk. We love this walk for the beautiful countryside with fantastic views and woodland for […]
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Fingest Hanger Wood Family Walk
This circular walk starts at The Chequers Inn pub in Fingest out towards Cadmore End through Hanger Woods. The route is just under 3 miles and enjoys the best of the beautiful Chiltern Hills countryside. Need to know Distance: approx. 3 miles although this can be shortened or lengthened as needed. See the map below. […]
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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 know Parking: park on the roadside here Distance: […]
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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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Cliveden Woodland Walk
Cliveden Woodland area is part of the the Cliveden Estate owned by the National Trust. That said, this area has it’s own entrance which is further down the road from the main entrance. The woodlands are a lovely area to explore and there are plenty of natural attractions for kids, from climbing logs, dens to […]
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Moor End Common Family Walk
We love the countryside around Frieth. This walk offering a mix of undulating countryside and woodland makes it one of our favourites. There are lots of different tracks and footpaths to follow, this route shows just one of them and covers roughly 2.9 miles in distance. Need to know Distance: 2.9 miles although the route […]
Rainy Day Ideas
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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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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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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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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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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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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 […]
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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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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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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 […]
Soft Play
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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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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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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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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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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 […]
Active & Sport
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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 […]
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Holmers Farm Recreation Ground Skate Park
This recreation ground with skate park is near the John Lewis in Cressex. There is easy free parking right by the skate park and a football area on both hard surface and grass.The skate park itself seems to hit the spot with our boys (5 and 8 years old). They loved the big space and […]
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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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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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Denham Country Park
Denham Country park covers 69 acres of land and includes a nature reserve, two rivers and a stretch of the Grand Union Canal. There is an adventure playground, cafe and lots of footpaths and tracks suitable for walking, buggies or bikes. Along the marked nature trail track there are 10 brass rubbings which our kids enjoyed. […]
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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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Henley Skate Park
Henley skate park is a large concrete skate park tucked just behind the main town centre. It has its own large free car park so it’s really easy to rock up, chuck the kids out the car – then make yourself comfy on one of the benches which over looking the skate park (whilst the […]
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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 […]
Toddler Trips
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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 […]
Swimming Pools
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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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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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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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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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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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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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