There is a little outdoor water park in Peterborough (Bretton Water Park) that I have heard about a few times, but not been to before. It doesn’t really have much information online about where it is or how to get there but in photos I had seen on Facebook etc. it looked great, so I decided to give it a go.
I had a vague idea of where it was and how to get there from talking to people about it, but I wasn’t 100% sure and my neighbour was following me there so I hoped I was right! (I will put directions below to hopefully help others wanting to go there). Thankfully I was right and we arrived with no problems.
Though I kicked myself when I arrived because I had been concentrating so hard on where it was that I had managed to leave a bag at home. A bag with Monkey’s swimsuit, towel, a blanket for us to sit on and suncream, all packed and ready… by our front door at home :(. Gutted! It isn’t far from where we live but I didn’t really want to go home again. Thankfully our everyday backpack had the food in, and after some digging I also managed to find a spare t-shirt, swimming nappy and some suncream with a little bit left in! My neighbour thankfully also had a spare towel with her so we had enough between us to cobble things together! That is why Monkey is only in a t-shirt and nappy though, just in case you are wondering!
Anyway, the water park is basically a big, completely outdoor soft tarmaced area (not sure if that is the right term, but you know the spongy tarmac some play areas have) with lots of different water fountains for the kids to run around in. As you can imagine, kids love it!
Monkey, being Monkey, was a bit wary to start with. He just isn’t a child to jump straight into new things. He is quite cautious and can take his time warming up to new situations. It can be frustrating that he isn’t one of those children who will just run off and go immediately, but it is a part of his personality which I also kinda love :). So, initially, inevitably, he stood and watched while my friend’s little boy ran right in.
I managed to tempt him over to a couple of the smaller fountains by playing in them a little myself. Eventually he gingerly reached for the water.
Then at another little fountain he found another child’s bucket and with a purpose (filling the bucket and tipping it out, very important purpose) he was soon right in there. (I found the mummy of the owner of the bucket and they were find for him to play with it and we gave it back later, just in case you are wondering!).
He finally had his legs and arms in there and then eventually he was soaked, and loving every minute.
We then went back to some of the other fountains that sprayed intermittently and he was loving putting his foot over the sprayer to get a surprise when it came back on again. At this point he was squealing with delight. None of the photos are that brilliant, as even when he was loving it, he very much wanted me right next to him the whole time and was often clinging onto my skirt (eye rolls) if I wouldn’t let him hold my hand!
I knew he would like it when he got going, but you cannot force him to do something he is not ready to do. He is a stubborn little Monkey and knows his own mind. I can only say that that will probably stand him in good stead in the future, but for now, we just have to go about things the right way when it comes to introducing him to knew things. Slowly, slowly, catchy Monkey. Is that the right phrase? It works for him anyway!
Now that we have been once I am sure he will get more and more confident every time we go. It is just what happens with him. Who knows, by the end of the summer I may actually be able to get shots of him from further than 2cm away! ;).
It wasn’t hugely busy when we were there but I am sure once the summer holidays comes around it will be quite a popular place so I hope we get to go once or twice more before then, so he is more confident before there are lots of bigger kids to make him nervous! I was really proud of him though as though it took him a while, he did get stuck in and enjoy himself!
Bretton Water Park Opening Times & Information
There is no entry charge! Free fun, woohoo!
The park is open from 10.30am – 6.30pm but the fountains are turned off every day between 1.30pm – 2.00pm for cleaning.
The park is open every day throughout the summer, until Friday 29th August.
There is a toilet block there with a drinking water fountain, but this wasn’t working when we went so take plenty of drinking water, It is not safe to drink the water in the park or the toilets.
For babies and tots in nappies, they have to be in swimming nappies at all times, not regular ones. There is an attendant there who has swimming nappies available to buy if you need to, I’m not sure how much they are though. He also came round with rubbish bags at one point which seemed very helpful and I saw him testing the water which is good to know!
There is no shade in the actual water park though there is some trees just outside it that may offer a bit of shade if you are there for a while.
There are baby changing facilities.
Other than the above water fountain I didn’t see any food or drink vendors there when we went.
Getting to Bretton Water Park
Local Map for Bretton Water Park (from Google Maps)
From the A47, follow signs for Bretton Centre (Sainsbury’s). It is the same junction as Peterborough City Hospital, but on the opposite side of the dual carriageway.
Turn right at the roundabout.
At the Traffic lights, instead of turning right into the shopping centre car park, stay in the left lane and continue straight ahead.
At the roundabout turn right onto Flax Land.
Continue past Aldi and round the corner there is a small sign for “Bretton Water Park” on your left.
Take that left turn and then follow signs for parking. These leads down a single track road under a barrier and through some woods but it is the right place.
This will open out and you should see the water park ahead. Parking is down the left side of the road.
We had a lovely time there and will definitely be going back a lot over the summer!It’s another great DOOOD (Day Out on Our Doorstep) :).
Aww man, this looks awesome!! I think there is somewhere near us that’s similar, but its always having & no that pleasant-has a very 70’s feel to it! Beautiful pics xx
Thanks lovely, it is a fab little place haha yeah this is definitely a bit newer thankfully! 🙂 xx
That looks like a brilliant place to go! My kids would love it there, and so nice to have the sunshine to play out in 🙂
Yeah it was lovely and lots of fun in the sunshine, we are so lucky to have it so close to us! 🙂 xx
This place looks like GREAT FUN! Water parks are massive hits with the kids aren’t they! Thanks so much for linking up with #MMWBH xx
Thanks lovely, it really is a lovely place, and a lot of fun! xx
That looks a fab place to visit! Even better that it’s free! Looks like Monkey had a brilliant time 🙂 x
Thanks Kim, it is lovely and yeah I can’t believe that it is free, he really did enjoy himself… in the end 🙂 xx
This looks lovely, can’t believe that it is also free. Super pictures.
#Tried/Tested
Thanks, I know the fact that it is free is pretty amazing 🙂 xx
This looks like so much fun – a great fun family day out that doesn’t cost anything – perfect! Thanks for linking up with #TriedTested
Thanks Kate, it was great and you’ve hit the nail on the head! Thanks for hosting 🙂 xx
wow its not often that something is on your doorstep and free! this looks like great fun and something to keep in mind when we get our heatwave!
I know what you mean, so lucky and so happy to have found it! xx
Wow this looks amazing!! I wish we had somewhere like this near us!
Thanks for linking up with #TriedTested x
Thanks lovely, we are so lucky, it was great and we have already been back since! xx
This looks like so much fun! I love water parks for the kids. They do too. Love your photos! Glad you had a great time. #triedtested
Thanks lovely, it is a fab place for the kiddies! xx
Looks like lots of fun and is very similar to a water park I went along to recently 🙂 I blogged about it here…:-)
http://www.transformingintobutterflies.co.uk/index.php/2014/07/adventures-west-park/
I loved looking at your pictures 🙂 Have a good week x
Aww that’s lovely, thanks I will have a read 🙂 xx
This looks like a fab place to go particularly on a sunny day! there is a water feature play area in the local park in Coventry but it does not look as good as this! Wish we lived closer! #mmwbh
It really is great, we are very lucky to have it so close xx
Sounds so familiar, my Monkey is the same, takes him ages to build up to something that you know he will love. Looks like a great park #SSAA
Our Monkey’s really are so similar aren’t they! At least they get there in the end! xx
Wow! I love that he is wearing his glasses all the way! Looks so much fun there and the bestest ever is that it is free =) #mmwbh
haha oh yes, those glasses are permanently attached to him if we are outside on a sunny day!! It is fab and even better that it is free! xx
What a great little water park. We have a similar one locally, and the kids love it. There have been occasions when I didn’t pack swimming costumes / towels because I thought it wasn’t warm enough and they also ended up in their pants and T-shirts. I bet in the end, you didn’t really miss the bag that was by the front door (you can use it next time… already packed, he he!). Mel #Loud&Proud
Oh that’s great, I bet they do! You’re so right, thankfully we had food and the essentials so it wasn’t too bad in the end – plus it saved me packing a bag when I out with friends a few days later, as it was all ready for me, and I did actually remember it that time! 🙂 xx
We have a similar park near us – must take the boys
you really should, I bet they would love it! XX
This sounds like an amazing place to take children – I imagine having in the summer holidays though 🙁 All of my children are the cautious types, watching others do it before delving in, I don’t think it’s a bad trait to have actually. Wonderful that he managed it in the end! Thanks for linking up to #loundproud.
thanks I think you’re right, feels frustrating at times but I am sure it will stand him in good stead as he gets older! xx
It looks like a great place for the kids to play and have a great day out, we are not all that far from Peterborough so I shall have to take my two girls there for a day of splashy fun. #MMWBH
oh definitely do, I bet they would love it 🙂 xx
Well done you! So glad yo managed to have a great day despite leaving a bag at home. Looks like a great place x
Thanks lovely, it was a lot of fun, even without my bag 🙂 xx
Wow this looks fab, wish there was something near me that had this kind of facilities. Monkey looked like he had a fab time #SSAmazingAchievements
Yep we are so lucky having somewhere like this so close by 🙂 xx
Looks like a lovely place to visit, the photos look so fun
thanks it is great fun 🙂 xx
This looks like so.much.fun! I bet the wee man was never out of it either! haha! And great weather to go along with it. Couldnt beat it. Great post and fun photos hun, thanks so much for linking up! #MMWBH xx
Thanks lovely 🙂 xx
What a fantastic environment, the photos are just great too. Thanks for linking up with #SSAmazingAchievements
Thank you for hosting 🙂 xx
Thanks for posting this especially the directions! I’ve known it was there for years, previously a paddling pool, but I’ve never known how to get there by car! I’ve lived here 47 years!!! Whoops lol. Will definitely take my grandson this year now.
Aw pleasure, glad you found it useful, I couldn’t find any directions for how to get there either and basically guessed so thought I would share it so that other people can find it a bit more easily!! I hope your grandson enjoys it 🙂 xx
Oh this is fab….I will definitely be paying a visit when we move and it opens 🙂
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