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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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 a full day. Its best enjoyed when the sun is shining (like anywhere!) but there is also an indoor soft play area. Here’s some of […]
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Cliveden
Cliveden is a National Trust site set high above the Thames with far-reaching views, Cliveden’s impressive gardens and majestic woodlands capture the grandeur of a bygone age. For younger visitors, the Storybook Play Den encourages imaginations to run wild as you play amongst wooden carvings of favourite storybook characters whilst the 500 metres of winding […]
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Hobbledown
Hobbledown describes itself as ‘a mystical farm park adventure’. Its a combination of animals and fantastic naturally built play areas like no other you are likely to have seen. Hobbledown is a book and the adventure park is set around the theme of the book with adventurous and challenging play areas, housed within beautiful and […]
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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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Beale Park
Beale Park is an outdoor wildlife park about 40 mins drive from Marlow out past Reading. There is plenty enough to keep young children occupied for most of the day between the animals, play areas, large outdoor paddling pool, sand, train ride and other exhibits. Where/When Beale Park, Lower Basildon, Reading RG8 9NW The open […]
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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, […]
Family Walks
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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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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 […]
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The Jolly Farmer pub walk in Cookham
The Jolly Farmer is a lovely pub in Cookham Dean, owned by the village for the village. As well as lovely food, they have a great outdoor play area. It’s worth visiting just for lunch or a drink whilst the kids play in the summer or you can combine a visit with a walk. We […]
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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 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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Frieth Village Family Walk 2 mile route
This circular walk starts off in Frieth village. We park on the road side near the kissing gate which takes you directly into the fields. This is marked on the map near Ellery Rise Road. Cut across the field, through another gate until you get to some woodland. For the direct route turn right within […]
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Munces Wood
Munces Wood and Kimber’s Copse is a lovely little area of woodland and grassland tucked behind Marlow Bottom. We only very recently discovered this hidden gem! The route There is a board showing the routes as soon as you enter the woodland after parking up. You’ll be able to see and follow the routes very […]
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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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Hambleden Valley Long Family Walk
This is a beautiful family walk but it does cover some distance. We did it in 3hrs with children aged between 4 and 8 years old and stopping a lot. It’s probably a 2hr walk at a steady pace if you didn’t stop. Need to know Parking – in Hambleden village Distance: this circular route […]
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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. […]
Rainy Day Ideas
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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. […]
Soft Play
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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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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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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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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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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 […]
Active & Sport
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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 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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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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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 […]
Swimming Pools
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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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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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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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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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