Aquapark Reading

The water slides at Aquapark Reading are proper entertainment for a half-day trip, especially if you've got kids who need tiring out. It's based in Wokingham, just a short drive from Reading town centre, so it slots nicely into a broader park holiday in the area.

You're looking at your typical leisure centre setup - indoor pools, flumes, a lazy river that moves at a pace that would frustrate an actual sloth, and shallow areas for smaller children. The slides range from gentle toboggan affairs to ones that'll have your heart in your mouth. Water temperature is decent, though it's hardly tropical.

It's ideal if you're staying at Wellington Country Park nearby - that's a proper day out on its own - and you want a rainy day option. Or if the weather's merely mediocre rather than genuinely grim. Honestly, it's the kind of place families with under-tens get real value from; teenagers might find it a bit tame after twenty minutes.

Admission isn't free, and you'll want to budget a couple of hours minimum, though most people stretch it to three or four if they're trying to give the kids a proper workout. Go mid-week during term time if you can - weekends and school holidays get rammed. The facility's clean enough, though expect the usual changing room chaos. It won't blow your mind, but it does the job.