With temperatures soaring, staying cool in and around landlocked Birmingham is easier than you think. From free splash pads and lidos to inland beaches and aqua parks, there are plenty of options for families and individuals to beat the heat without travelling far.
Free Splash Pads and Paddling Pools
Stourport-on-Severn, often called Birmingham's 'closest seaside town that has everything but a beach', has reopened its popular free paddling pool after a two-year closure. The riverside town also offers a fairground, fish and chips, arcade games, parks, playgrounds, crazy golf, a bouncy castle, theatre, and independent shops.
Willenhall Memorial Park Splash Pad, a Green Flag award-winning park, features a café, play area, multi-use games area, skate park, outdoor gym, and an enclosed dog area. Splash park opening times are 11am to 5pm on weekends, school holidays, and bank holidays, and 11am to 3pm on weekdays during term time. Parking is free.
Mary Stevens Park in Stourbridge offers a free splash pad with water jets, cannons, a spray loop, and a flower water feature, plus a toddler area. The park also has a lake, outdoor gym, large play area, tennis courts, and a bandstand. The café is open daily from 8am to 6pm, and parking is free.
Thrilling Aqua Parks and Slides
The X Tower at Aqualand at Cliff Lakes in Tamworth, which opened last month, is the UK's first tower of its kind. This 12-metre-tall inflatable slide features six epic slides with dual racing lanes, high-speed drop slides, and a sliding mat, designed for adrenaline junkies aged 12 and over.
Cliff Lakes also houses Birmingham's nearest aqua park, Aqualand, with five obstacle courses to complete in 80 minutes. Attractions include the Peakz floating adventure park, Aqua Chimp Wipeout, Aquaglide park, and Wibit park, all set in a lovely location for walks and picnics.
Aztec Adventure near Bromsgrove is home to Europe's first Aquaglide Splash Squad Junior Aqua Park, designed for smaller swimmers. The main course features floating obstacles like trampolines, climbing walls, ropes, stepping stones, and a balance plank. There is also wild swimming at certain times, a beach bus for snacks, and plenty of space to relax. It is easily reachable from Birmingham via the M5.
Lidos and Outdoor Pools
Droitwich Spa Lido is one of the last open-air saltwater swimming pools in the UK. Set in beautiful green parkland, the 40-metre pool has a Wet Play Area with water cannons and fountains, a patio with loungers, and a café serving snacks and ice creams.
The Severn Centre Outdoor Pool in Highley, Shropshire, offers a 'holiday at home' experience with a heated 25-metre pool, music, and pool toys. The centre has a café and vending machines, and offers family sessions, Aquafit, swimming lessons, and adult sessions. Fees apply.
Ashby-de-la-Zouch Lido, known as Ashby-by-the-Sea, is just half an hour from Birmingham. First opened in 1929, it has been significantly refurbished and includes a beach play area. It is run by Everyone Active and occasionally hosts 'doggy splash' events. Fees apply.
Inland Beaches and Lakes
Rutland Water in Leicestershire is the only inland bathing water location in England to be awarded the Blue Flag and Seaside Award. It is a 90-minute drive from Birmingham and offers free beach access with parking charges. Visitors can swim, build sandcastles, and enjoy barbecues or picnics.
Cotswold Country Park and Beach, the UK's biggest inland beach, is also 90 minutes from Birmingham. Activities include wild swimming, paddling, pedalos, and mini golf.
Arrow Valley Country Park in Redditch features a 27-acre lake where you can hire a pedalo. The 900-acre park has a café overlooking the lake, and offers kayaking, rowing boats, and paddle-boarding during school holidays. It is just 40 minutes from Birmingham and has shaded woodland areas.
New and Notable Splash Pads
Saltwich Splash in Lido Park, Droitwich Spa, is a brand new £550,000 splash pad that opened in spring 2026. It features water sprays, green arches, a tipper bucket, boulders, and a water run at different levels with ramp access. Open daily from 10am to 6pm until September, it also has a café called Little Al's and picnic areas.
Brinton Park Splash Pad in Kidderminster includes jets, slides, water cannons, a boat, and shallow play areas for little ones. Open daily from 11am to 5pm, weather permitting, the park also has a large play area, bandstand, skate park, and open spaces.
Walsall Arboretum Splash Pad, set in 170 acres of parkland and gardens, is highly rated by parents. Features include fountains, water cannons, spray jets, a playground, a lake with pedalos, a skate park, and table tennis. The café serves reasonably priced coffee. Splash pad opening times are 11am to 5pm on weekends, school holidays, and bank holidays, and 11am to 3pm on weekdays during term time.
Blue Flag Beaches Near Birmingham
The Blue Flag beach awards for 2026 have been announced, with 126 beaches receiving the accolade. Several are within easy reach of Birmingham. A guide to the closest beaches, including driving times and routes, is available.
Whatever activity you choose, remember to take care around open water, apply sunscreen, stay hydrated, wear a hat and sunglasses, and seek shade. Many locations require pre-booking, and opening times may vary, so check ahead to avoid disappointment.
