There are more places near York for paddling and swimming than you might think! From streams to stepping stones and splash areas to outside swimming pools, we’ve rounded up 18 places near York where you can cool down this summer.
So why not pack a picnic, grab some towels and head off for a day of fun!
There is a brilliant water play area at the Web Adventure Park with pumps, dams, streams and a paddling area. Plus plenty more activities to enjoy whilst you are there.
What do Mumblers think? “When the weather is lovely, there’s a nice water play bit outside to dip the little ones feet in so take a towel!”
💷 See the Web Adventure Park website for up to date details and opening times & days.
📍 The Web Adventure Park, Wigginton Road, York, YO32 2RH
ℹ️ Find out more and book here.
The lakes opened in early 2022 for wild/open-water swimming. The new lakeside sauna! Swimming facilities include a sauna, hot showers, toilets and an open changing area. There is also an onsite cafe open Thursday to Sunday.
Swimming is for competent swimmers only. Every swimmer must be able to swim 50m unaided. Children or adult non-swimmers are welcomed in the summer months and must be accompanied and be able to swim 50m in a life vest.
💷 See website for up to date costs, prices vary depending on the season. Summer is from £5 midweek and from £9 at weeekends
📍 Wheldrake Lane, Crockey Hill, York, YO19 4SQ. Type in “Pool Bridge Farm” into Google maps as the Postcode (YO19 4SQ) tends to take you 200m or so past the entrance.
ℹ️ See the Pool Bridge website
There is a very small little bit of sand by the side of the river in Newton-on-Ouse, near Beningbrough Hall which is lovely for a nice walk and a stop for a paddle.
Please be aware that this is a river with a strong current. Do not let your children in out of their depth and always supervise very closely.
What do Mumblers think? “We’ve been and it was lovely with about 2 other families there.”
💜 FREE
📍 One of our Mumblers helpfully gave these directions: If you park on the street (in Newton) and head through the Beningbrough gates there is another gate to the right. Go through it and turn left, follow the trees alongside the river for about 15/20 mins and you will stumble upon it. You can’t miss it once you’re there.
This is a lovely place to visit for a relaxed summer’s day out. For the more adventurous there is open-air swimming and an inflatable obstacle course. Equally as enjoyable is a paddle in the lake and play in the sandpit. Open water swimming is available Tuesday-Friday 9-10am & Sat & Sun: 9-10:30am & Mon & Wed evenings from 5 – 7.30pm from £6 per person.
What do Mumblers think? “Allerthorpe Lake is a great day out. They have a bit of the lake for paddling.”
💷 £12 for a family entry (max 5 people). Additional costs for aquapark course & water sport activities. Pre-book in advance only. Open Tuesday – Sunday 9am – 5pm, and bank holiday Mondays.
📍 Melbourne Road, Allerthorpe, Pocklington, York YO42 4RL
ℹ️ Find out more and book here.
This small park in Knaresborough is open all year and has a paddling pool open from May to early September. It is attached to the Castle Gardens and the pool looks over the valley towards the River Nidd.
The paddling pool is open from spring bank holiday to the first week in September.
What do Mumblers think? “Go on a train trip to Knaresborough, then there is the Bebra Gardens with a lovely paddling pool, you can then walk by the river or get a rowing boat.”
💜 FREE
📍 Off Brewerton Street, Knaresborough, HG5 8BB. All-day parking is available at Waterside car park, HG5 8DF. The gardens are signposted from there up steep steps
ℹ️ Find out more here.
This heated (yes heated!) outdoor pool with children’s paddling pool is open from Spring Bank Holiday to August Bank Holiday. As you can imagine it gets very popular, so book in advance.
What do Mumblers think? “The pool at Rudding is fab…but you have to book a slot.”
💷 90 minute sessions can be booked in advance, from £6 per person. Pre-book online. Open Friday – Sunday, 12pm until 6pm
📍 Follifoot, Harrogate, HG3 1JH
ℹ️ Find out more and book here.
This beautiful park in Harrogate is perfect for a day out with a picnic. There is so much to do including pitch and putt golf course, crazy golf, a boating pool, children’s play area and if the weather is good a large paddling pool.
Open from late May until the first week in September. The pool is emptied, cleaned and refilled at least twice a week, usually on a Monday and a Friday. This can take up to six hours, so be aware of this if you are planning a visit.
What do Mumblers think? “I highly recommend Valley Gardens in Harrogate, brilliant gardens huge play park and skate park plus the amazingly beautiful outdoor paddling pool truly beautiful clean water, we have spent the day there and couldn’t speak highly enough of it.”
💜 FREE
📍 Located off Valley Drive, Harrogate, HG2 0JS.
ℹ️ Find out more here.
This one is a 25-metre heated open-air pool and aims to provide affordable outdoor swimming and a holiday atmosphere. There are 90-minute fun sessions that children can attend.
The pool opens for the season in May 2025.
What do Mumblers think? “We went this afternoon and it was lovely. There’s a little park next door too.”
💷 From £5.95 per adult, £3.95 per child (4-16 years), £2.50 per spectator, £20 family (2 adults + max 3 children). Tickets are available 14 days before on a rolling release schedule. (2023 prices shown)
📍 Baxton’s Sprunt, Helmsley, YO62 5HT
ℹ️ Find out more and book here.
Head to Newby Hall if you want a fab family day out with plenty to do, including getting wet in Tarantells dancing water play area by Willian Pye. You can explore the beautiful gardens and take a ride on the miniature railway.
What do Mumblers think? “Newby Hall is perfect for splashing! There’s a play area, peddle boats, a ride on train and water fountain things with sprouting fountains. Great for kids.”
💷 Family garden only ticket from £54 for 2 adults & 2 children. Tickets also available including entrance to the house.
📍 Newby Hall, Ripon, HG4 5AE
ℹ️ Find out more and book here.
This picturesque village has a beck running through it, perfect for a quick paddle if the weather is warm. There is a woodland footpath that runs from the car park to the village and lots of lovely walks in the surrounding valleys and woods.
If you don’t have a car, you can get the Coastliner bus from Stonebow, York and it stops in the centre of Thornton le Dale. Buses run hourly and take approximately 1 hour & 15 minutes.
What do Mumblers think? “If you want somewhere simple and free then we like Thornton le Dale. Grab and ice cream and go sit by the stream. Kids and dogs can have a paddle while you sit and enjoy the sun.”
💜 FREE
📍 Thornton le Dale, Pickering, YO18
🚌 Find out how to get to Thornton le Dale by bus here.
Located in the North York Moors National Park there is so much to do. Take a picnic and enjoy a walk or a bike ride and a paddle in the streams.
What do Mumblers think? “At Dalby Forest there so much to do. Lovely streams to go in, two lovely parks, some nice walk and good picnic areas.”
💷 Parking £10 until 4pm, £5 after 4pm (March – October)
📍 Dalby Visitor Centre, Low Dalby, Thornton-Le-Dale, Pickering
This picturesque village in the North York Moors is lovely for a wander, picnic and paddle. Set off on a nice sunny day and don’t forget your towels.
What do Mumblers think? “Hutton le hole is gorgeous, fantastic for a paddle and a picnic. Fab ice-cream there too.”
📍 Hutton le Hole, York, YO62
A range of water-based activities on the lake at Hatfield Outdoor Activity Centre, including kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding. There is also an inflatable Aquapark, which has recently expanded. You can also enjoy a swim in the natural lake pool, the newest addition to our growing number of water activities.
💷 Outdoor swimming is £4.50 per adult, £3 per child/£2 per infant. See the website for prices for other activities.
📍 Old Thorne Road, Hatfield, Doncaster DN7 6EQ
ℹ️ Find out more and book here.
The indoor pool is open all year and the outdoor Lido is open between May and September. The outdoor pool isn’t heated so best to be prepared for that before you rush in!
Opens from late April each year.
What do Mumblers think? “There is loads of space all around the pool to sit and walk around, lovely views, and a cafe on site which is handy for ice creams.”
💷 Prices from £3.35 per child (3+), £6.45 per adult
📍Denton Road, Ilkley, LS29 0BZ
ℹ️ Find out more here.
There is a lot of fun to have at Bolton Abbey including 60 stepping stones and a large beach area where you can enjoy a paddle and a picnic – but maybe not at the same time! Find out more on Mumbler.
What do Mumblers think? “Bolton Abbey is fab for a paddle – there are stepping stones across the river and a shallow part for paddling by the abbey ruins. You can have a picnic at the riverbank too.”
💷 Car parking charges apply
📍Bolton Abbey car park is closest to the Priory Church and Ruins and Stepping Stones. For satnav follow BD23 6EX
One of the first places that come to mind when it’s sunny is the beach. Below are some of the most recommended beaches by Mumblers – these ones have vast beaches and are perfect for a paddle.
Fraisthorpe
“Fraisthorpe is great! There’s a cafe/restaurant type place there too now called the Cow Shed. It’s lovely.”
“£3 to park all day, just a good cafe and toilets there and miles of beach. Even on busy days can still find a lovely spot to sit.”
Hunmanby Gap
“Love Hunmanby Gap, it’s a beautiful stretch of beach and goes on for miles!!”
Filey
“Filey is our favourite place EVER!! There’s a paddling pool area it’s great.”
If you want even more beach suggestions, check out our Ultimate Family Guide to the North Yorkshire Coast.
Situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales within a steep rocky gorge of the River Ure. You can take a walk through the woods and paddle in the river and streams. Find out more on the Woodland Trust website.
What do Mumblers think? “It’s a gorgeous place. There’s a fountain they can work themselves but it’s hard work! All covered by trees with rocky streams to play in until they join the main river and then they can paddle in there.”
📍 From Masham, turn left out of the marketplace near the community centre onto Church Street. Follow the road around a left-hand bend onto Park Street. Head out of Masham on Thorpe Road and over the River Burn bridge towards Grewelthorpe for approximately one mile.
Enjoy a walk through the woodlands to see the 30 foot Falling Foss waterfall and then return alongside the babbling May Beck. A great shady walk on a warm summer’s day with lots of shallow water to paddle in. Find out more here.
What do Mumblers think? “Falling Foss waterfalls is fantastic for paddling and lovely tea room.”
📍 May Beck Car Park, Sneaton, Whitby YO22 5JE
There is a huge Water Splash at Clifton Park with fountains, a paddling pool, a whirlpool and over 70 water jets that fire at random. There is also a huge play area, lovely gardens and a café. Find out more on the Clifton Park website.
What do Mumblers think? “Clifton Park in Rotherham is perfect on a hot day. There’s a huge green area and big climbing park and then there’s a paddling area and little fountains that are all free, you just pay for parking.”
📍Clifton Park, Doncaster Road, Rotherham, South Yorks – use S65 2BQ or S65 2AA for satnav (there are two car parks)
📌 Don’t forget… check the Sewage Map before you set off to ensure it is safe to swim by visiting the Sewage Map from The Rivers Trust here.
