We’re all used to a wet British summer, but every so often we get a heatwave. There is lots of advice around on how to keep babies and kids cool in the hot weather so we thought we would share our ideas on where to go if you want to get out and about and some fun suggestions for home when the temperatures soar.
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Places To Go When It’s Hot, Hot, Hot
Don’t forget your suncream, hats and sunglasses when you head out in the summer and try and avoid the middle of the day if you can when the sun is at it’s hottest. Here are a few places you can go to cool off.
Oxfordshire Splash Parks
If you’ve got a group of kids or little ones who can’t swim then a splash park can be lots of fun.
- Cuttleslowe Park (Oxford) – open for 2023
- The Leys (Witney) – tbc
- Abbey Meadows (Abingdon) – open for 2023
- Riverside Jubilee Splash Park (Wallingford) – reopens summer 2023
- Wellington Country Park (Riseley) open for 2023
- Beale Park (paddling pool) open for 2023
- Garth Park (Bicester) – tbc
- California Country Park paddling pool (Finchamstead/Wokingham)
- Manor Park Memorial Gardens (Wantage) – tbc
Paddling & Wild Swimming outdoors in Oxfordshire
The water quality in Oxfordshire isn’t always the best with sewage releases from water companies. If you are paddling or swimming, do take care not to swallow any water.
- Minster Lovell – it’s wonderfully cool in the shade of the trees and in the river there are areas shallow enough to paddle and other parts deep enough to swim.
- Bourton-in-the-water has shallow, ankle keep water for paddling in the Windrush River.
- Wallingford Beach – there’s a easy shallow entry into the river Thames just under the bridge. Paid car park nearby (by the open air pool)
- Port Meadow at the Wolvercote end is easy to get into the water for a swim and a great spot for paddle boarding or kayaking.
Outdoor Pools and Lidos – there’s nothing like a dip in an outdoor pool to cool you down and make you feel like you’re on holiday.
- Hinksey Outdoor Pool (Oxford) – open from 12th June 2023
- Abbey Meadows Outdoor Pool (Abingdon) open from 24th July 2023
- Woodstock Outdoor Pool – date tbc
- Riverside Park & Pools (Wallingford) – open for 2023
- Woodgreen Leisure Centre Outdoor Pool (Banbury) open for 2023
- Northcroft Lido (Newbury)
- Coral Reef (Bracknell) indoor and outdoor pool
- Chipping Norton Lido
- Chesham Moor outdoor pool
Aqua Parks
- Wet n’ Wild (Berinsfield nr Oxford) open for 2023
- Lagoona Park (Reading) open for 2023
- Liquid Leisure (Datchet nr Windsor)
- Willen Lakes (Milton Keynes)
Head inside to cool off
- Oxford Ice Rink
- Bracknell Ice Rink
- Bracknell Ski Centre
- The Jelly Lounge (Windsor) – a posh soft play with air con and at the top of my hit list of places I want to visit with the kids.
- Yarnton Magic Garden soft play (Yarnton, nr North Oxford)
- Lakeside Soft Play (Datchet nr Windsor)
You could also enjoy one of the many amazing flavours of ice cream at the Milk Shed (Weston On The Green).
Activities at home for when it’s hot, hot, hot
Dinosaur Ice Excavation – you’ll need to make this in advance but it’s a great game for little ones and perfect to take outside.
Water Play – get the paddling pool out and pop it in a shady part of your garden or how about a selection of different bowls, Tupperware and wooden spoons. Fill them up with water and cool down.
Water Sponge Bombs – cheap to make and so much fun!
Ice Painting – a seriously ‘cool’ art activity.
Recipes to help your kids cool off
This quickest and easiest recipe is just to freeze some squash or fruit juice in lolly moulds but we’ve got a few more ideas your kids will love.