10 Hampshire pools and splash parks for a hot day
By the demoduck.co.uk editorial team | Updated 11 August 2026
From heated lidos and seawater swimming to free toddler splash pads, Hampshire offers several ways to cool down during the summer. The ten venues highlighted by Visit Hampshire cover very different outings: some suit serious lane swimmers, while others are built around flumes, inflatables or gentle water play.
The choices stretch from Petersfield and Aldershot to Portsmouth, Lymington, Eastleigh and Basingstoke. Opening periods, session types and admission arrangements can vary, so families should confirm the details directly with their chosen venue before travelling.
Pick the right water venue for your day
Choose Petersfield Lido or the renovated Hilsea Lido if open-air swimming is the priority. Aldershot Lido combines a large outdoor pool with flumes, diving and space for a picnic, while Lymington Sea Water Baths and New Forest Water Park offer more adventurous inflatable courses.
For younger children who mainly want to splash, Fleming Park Paddling Pool and Chineham Park Splash Pad are free options. Southsea Splash Pool adds play equipment and picnic space, while Wellington Country Park combines its Splash Zone with a much wider outdoor attraction.
Basingstoke Aquadrome is the weatherproof choice. Its three indoor pools include a leisure lagoon with flumes, a rapid river and a toddler area.
| Venue | Facilities and best fit |
|---|---|
| Petersfield Lido | Heated 25-metre outdoor pool, lane sessions, springboard diving, inflatables and sun terrace |
| Hilsea Lido | Renovated 67-metre open-air pool with lane swimming, family sessions, coaching and sauna |
| Aldershot Lido | Large outdoor pool with three flumes, diving platform, toddler pool, sandpit and picnic area |
| Lymington Sea Water Baths | Lifeguarded seawater pool with inflatable obstacle course, lap section and family area |
| New Forest Water Park | Two inflatable courses, wakeboarding, paddleboarding and open-water swimming |
| Wellington Country Park | Splash Zone for young children alongside play areas, sandpits and nature trails |
| Fleming Park Paddling Pool | Free paddling pool with water features, play area and sandpit |
| Southsea Splash Pool | Two paddling pools, play equipment, grass and picnic space beside Southsea Common |
| Chineham Park Splash Pad | Free 350-square-metre splash pad with 29 water-play features |
| Basingstoke Aquadrome | Three indoor pools, flumes, rapid river, bubble pools and toddler area |
Heated lidos for swimming, diving and family sessions
Petersfield Lido is a 25-metre open-air pool heated to 27°C. It opens daily from spring until autumn and offers lane swimming, springboard diving and family inflatable sessions. Hot showers, changing rooms and a sun terrace make it suitable for visitors who want to stay beyond a quick swim.
In Portsmouth, Hilsea Lido reopened in 2026 following a renovation timed with its 90th birthday. The historic 67-metre pool accommodates lane swimming, family sessions, coaching and activities for different ages and abilities. A sauna and social areas sit alongside the water.
Aldershot Lido is described by Visit Hampshire as the county’s largest open-air pool. Its three water flumes, diving platform and toddler paddling pool support a mixed-age family visit, while the sandpit, basketball area and substantial picnic space provide alternatives away from the water. The published seasonal pattern is weekends in June followed by daily opening during July and August.
Seawater and inflatable courses for active days
Lymington Sea Water Baths offers three distinct ways to use its seawater pool. Confident visitors can tackle an inflatable obstacle course fitted with swings, slides and balance beams, while swimmers can choose between a lap-swimming section and a family area. It is the venue in the source specifically described as fully lifeguarded.
New Forest Water Park is aimed at visitors seeking a more physically demanding outing. Its two inflatable obstacle courses include trampolines, monkey bars, slides and climbing walls. Wakeboarding, stand-up paddleboarding and open-water swimming are also available at the site.
These two venues may look similar at first glance, but their emphasis differs. Lymington combines obstacle play with defined lap and family swimming areas; New Forest Water Park centres on inflatable challenges and several open-water activities.
Free splash pads for younger children
Fleming Park Paddling Pool in Eastleigh is free to use and includes several water features. A large play area and sandpit provide dry activities nearby. Its stated season runs from the final bank holiday weekend in May until the first weekend of September.
Beside Southsea Common, Southsea Splash Pool has two paddling pools for smaller children. A mini trampoline, seesaw and other play equipment sit nearby, with grass available for a family picnic.
Chineham Park Splash Pad is Basingstoke’s free water-play option. Its 350-square-metre splash area contains 29 play features, including a water mushroom, totem poles, a water cage and water hopscotch. The range is particularly suited to toddlers who prefer moving between short bursts of water play.
A full-day attraction on Hampshire’s northern border
The Splash Zone at Wellington Country Park lets younger children walk through water spouts and stand beneath a water umbrella. It is part of a larger outdoor attraction rather than a standalone swimming pool.
Families can move on to adventure playgrounds, a dedicated toddler area, sandpits, slides and nature trails when children have finished splashing. That makes Wellington the broadest choice on the list for visitors who want water play to be one part of a longer day outdoors.
Basingstoke Aquadrome covers the rainy-day option
Basingstoke Aquadrome at Basingstoke Leisure Park provides an indoor alternative when outdoor conditions are unsuitable. The facility has three pools serving different purposes.
A 25-metre pool caters for length swimming, while a 20-metre pool has a movable floor that allows different activities to take place. The leisure lagoon is the family-focused section, with three flumes, a rapid river, bubble pools, water cannons and a toddler area.
Check the session before setting out
The source gives broad seasonal information for Petersfield, Aldershot and Fleming Park, but it does not provide daily timetables, prices or booking rules for the ten venues. Session type matters: lane swimming, family access, inflatable use and coaching may not operate simultaneously.
Visitors should therefore check the current opening calendar, age or ability requirements and booking arrangements with the individual venue. This is especially relevant for inflatable courses and activity-based sessions, while families choosing free facilities should confirm that seasonal water features are operating on the day of travel.
Source: Visit Hampshire Blog
Context & actions About this article
Source check How this guide was prepared
This comparison reorganises the facilities, locations and seasonal details published by Visit Hampshire on 11 August 2026.
- Matched all ten named venues against the supplied Visit Hampshire guide.
- Separated swimming pools, inflatable water parks and children’s splash facilities.
- Retained only opening periods, dimensions and facilities stated by the source.
- Flagged that daily times, prices and booking arrangements were not supplied.
- Source
- Visit Hampshire Blog
- Scope
- Hampshire
- Updated
- 2026-08-11 17:25
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