North East Splash Pads, Water Play Areas & Outdoor Pools

This post was published in April 2023. Please always check information with venues direct before heading out. 

Water play areas are often seasonal and only open in the warmer months. They are also liable to breaking and sometimes have to unexpectedly close for repair / maintenance. I would always recommend checking with the operators direct to check on the situation that day before heading out to avoid disappointment. 


If you can't find out this info direct, you can always post in our North East Days Out Facebook Group and ask locals what the current situation is. Sometimes I use the geotag function on Instagram to look at recent photos too (although sometimes, people don't post in 'real time'). 

Here are 17 places you can cool off in the warm weather. Many of them are FREE with no booking required and accessible by public transport too. Ideal for a picnic / day out in summer. 

Read next: 25 of the Best Parks & Playgrounds in North East England

Please do check with venues direct for current opening hours, many splash pads don't open until May and some can temporarily close for maintenance. 

1. Ridley Park, Blyth (FREE Splash Pad) - NE24 3HF
   
   
2. Riverside Park, Chester-le-Street (FREE Splash Pad) - DH3 3PL
   
   
3. Hirst Park, Ashington (FREE Splash Pad) - NE63 9NZ
   
   
4. Carlisle Park, Morpeth (FREE Outdoor Paddling Pool) - NE61 1YD
   
   
5. Whitley Bay Playground (FREE Splash Pad) - NE26 1AU
   
   
6. Seaton Carew Sea Front (FREE Splash Pad) - TS25 1BS (usually summer holidays only)
   
   
7. Headland Block Sands (FREE Paddling Pool) - TS24 0QG (I think this one is still closed - let me know if you know otherwise)
   
   
8. Spittal Playground (FREE Splash Pad) - TD15 1SE
   
   
9. Haltwhistle Outdoor Pool (Paid Outdoor Swimming Pool) - NE49 9DW
   
   
10. Stanhope Outdoor Pool (Paid Outdoor Swimming Pool) - DL13 2LU. Closed for 2023 and awaiting repair. Fingers crossed they are back in 2024 
    
    
11. Alnwick Garden (Paid Water Play - although kids do go free) - NE66 1FJ
    
    
12. Rising Sun Park, North Tyneside (FREE Water Play) - NE12 9SS
    
    
13. Bitts Park, Carlisle (FREE Water Play). I know not technically NE but it's not far - CA3 8UZ
    
    
14. Paddlers Park, Amble (FREE Water Play)  - NE65 0AZ 
    
    
15. Kirkleatham Walled Garden (Paid Entry - Water Play Area) - TS10 4AS 
    
    
16. Exhibition Park, Newcastle (FREE Water Play) - NE2 4PZ
    
    
17. WWT Washington (PAID ENTRY Water Play) - NE38 8LE

I will share a google map at the bottom of this post with all of the locations for the places mentioned (this will help with parking etc....) or you can download a FREE copy to your phone here. 

Ridley Park, Blyth (FREE Splash Pad)

The water play area here is usually available daily from the end of May until September. Check with Northumberland County Council for up to date info. No need to book - just turn up. 

We love Ridley Park. It's easy to get to by bus (alight at Blyth Town Centre then it's a 5-10 minute walk) and there's lots to do including two playgrounds and a cafe. There is a small free car park, free street parking nearby and more parking in Blyth Town Centre. 

Read our full guide to visiting here: Ridley Park Guide 

Riverside Park, Chester-le-Street (FREE Splash Pad)

Riverside Park Splash Pad is pretty popular. Usually open from the beginning of July until September from 10am-6pm daily. Check with Durham County Council for the most to date information. 

No need to book - just turn up. 

You can catch a bus to Chester-le-Street town centre and the park is a 5-10 minute walk away or there is an onsite car park. 

Check out our full guide to visiting Riverside Park here: Riverside Park Guide 

Here are their 2023 opening times: 

Hirst Park, Ashington (FREE Splash Pad)

The Friends of Hirst Park usually update their FB group with splash pad opening times. No need to book - just turn up.

You can catch a bus to Ashington Town Centre and the park is a short walk away or there is a small car park onsite (plus further parking in the town centre). 

Read our guide to visiting Hirst Park here: Hirst Park Guide 

Carlisle Park, Morpeth (FREE Outdoor Paddling Pool)

The paddling pool at Carlisle Park is usually open from the last week of May until the first week of September. Check with Morpeth Town Council for the most up to date information. 

You can catch a bus to Morpeth Town Centre and Carlisle Park is a short walk from the bus stop. Morpeth Train Station is also around a 10 minute walk away. There are plenty of car parking options in Morpeth but it can get busy on nice days. 

No need to book - just turn up. 

Read our guide to visiting Morpeth here: 14 Things to do in Morpeth with Kids 

Whitley Bay Playground (FREE Splash Pad) 

This water play area has recently re-opened after maintenance. Check with North Tyneside Council for the most up to date information. 

No need to book - just turn up. 

Whitley Park is easy to get to by Metro or Bus (to Whitley Bay) and there are car parks / street parking in the vicinity. 

Read our guide to visiting Whitley Bay here: 25 Things to do in Whitley Bay with Kids

Seaton Carew Water Park (Free Splash Pad) 

This splash pad on the sea front usually opens during the summer holidays daily from 10am-6pm. 

There is a car park by the beach and buses are available. 

No need to book - just turn up. 

Headland Block Sands Paddling Pool, Hartlepool (Free Outdoor Paddling Pool) 

I haven't visited this one myself but it seems to be managed by a community group. You can check for updates / when it's likely to be open / more info on their Facebook page.  Last time I checked (the start of June), this pool was not yet open and had not announced an opening date. 

No need to book - just turn up. 

Spittal Park (FREE Splash Pad) 

Check Berwick Town Council for opening hours. This splash pad is relatively new. Right by the beach with a prom / ice cream kiosks and cafes nearby, it's a nice option for a day out. 

You can reach Spittal by car or bus. 

No need to book - just turn up. 

Haltwhistle Outdoor Pool (Paid Outdoor Swimming Pool) 

Haltwhistle Pool is always super busy on sunny days so I do recommend getting there early to guarantee entry (no booking). There's not one, but three outdoor pools to enjoy here. 

There is an onsite car park. 

Find out more: Haltwhistle Pool Website 

Stanhope Outdoor Pool (Paid Outdoor Swimming Pool).

Stanhope Pool will not be opening in 2023 due to a technical problem.

They offer pre-booking and if there are any tickets left for a session, you can pay on the door. 

This pool hopes to reopen towards the end of May. 

Parking is available in Stanhope and buses are available. 

Find out more: Stanhope Outdoor Pool Website 

Read next: 5 Outdoor Swimming Pools within a 2 hour drive of Newcastle 

Alnwick Garden (Paid Water Play - although kids do go free) 

The Serpent Garden at Alnwick Garden features various water play areas where kids can paddle and splash around (please note, you are NOT allowed in the main fountain / cascade area).

This water play area is open year round so ideal to visit if we get a random hot day earlier in the year. Make sure you pack a change of clothes and towel. 

Alnwick Garden has it's own car park, you can park in Alnwick Town and buses are available. 

Find out more: Alnwick Garden Website 

Rising Sun Country Park, North Tyneside (FREE Water Play) 

The Rising Sun Country Park includes a small water play area by the visitor centre, it's kind of an artificial stream where kids can play about. Check with North Tyneside Council for updates. 

There is a free onsite car park and Rising Sun Country Park is easy to reach by bus / Metro. 

This one is still listed on North Tyneside Council's website as being open but a few people have mentioned the water has not been switched on since pre-covid. Fingers crossed for this year! 

Find out more: North Tyneside Council 

Bitts Park, Carlisle (FREE Water Play) 

I know Carlisle isn't in the North East but it's pretty easy to get to and just a short drive from some areas of Northumberland so I thought it was worth a mention. This water play area is just next to Carlisle Castle in the heart of the city and managed by Cumberland Council. Usually open from Easter - October.  

Bitts Park is easy to reach by train, bus or car (there is an onsite car park). 

Paddlers Park, Amble (FREE Water Play)

This playground is just to the side of the main pier in Amble and overlooks the sea / Coquet Island. It's the kind of water play area where you pump water and manage it's flow through a 'river' with various levers etc..... I would recommend water/jelly shoes when playing here. 

Kirkleatham Walled Garden (PAID ENTRY Water Play) 

It was switched off when we visited but Kirkleatham Walled Garden has a fun looking water play feature in the summer / warmer months. It's the kind where there are holes in the ground and water shoots up out of them. The water area is just outside of the cafe and there is a lovely playground, Owl Centre, Kirkleatham Museum and Superworm Trail in Kirkleatham so plenty to make a day of it. 

Exhibition Park, Newcastle (FREE Water Play) 

If you are facing Wylam Brewery, the water play area in Exhibition Park is just the the right of the lake in a shaded woodland area. It's the type where you manage the floor of water through pumps / taps / pipes. It was out of use for a few years but a few people have been in touch recently to say it's back up and working for 2023. 

WWT Washington (PAID ENTRY Water Play) 

The water play area at WWT Washington is pretty small but it's still lots of fun, you can use pumps, water wheels and funnels to play with the water here. 

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