Sometimes sticking our knackered old trotters in a lukewarm city fountain is the only thing that’ll get us through a scorching hot summer’s day, and the kids seem to like them too. Luckily for us there are options all over the capital, from purpose-built splash parks to ornamental fountains too tempting not to clamber into. Here are some of the best.

North

Granary Square Fountains, King’s Cross on

Lewis Cubitt Square Fountains, King’s Cross on

Rosemary Gardens water play, Islington on

Highbury Fields water play, Islington on

Priory Park paddling pool, Hornsey open weekends from 3rd June, open every day from 25th July

Lordship Recreation Ground paddling pool, Tottenham

Bruce Castle Park paddling pool, Tottenham

Whittington Park water play, Archway on

Barnard Park water play, Islington on

Animal Adventure water play at ZSL London Zoo, Camden Town off

King Square Gardens splash pad, Islington on

Gloucester Gate Playground water play, Regent’s Park, Camden Town on

Parliament Hill Paddling Pool, Hampstead Heath, Hampstead off

Queen’s Park Padding Pool, Queen’s Park off

Union Park play fountain, Wembley on

Arena Square, Wembley Park

Finsbury Park splash play, Finsbury Park off

Elthorne Park Playground water play, Hornsey on

Swiss Cottage Open Space splash pad, Swiss Cottage on

Kilburn Grange Park splash pad, Kilburn on

Paradise Park splash pad, Islington on

East

Barking Splash Park, Barking on

Victoria Park Splash Pool, Hackney off

Tumbling Bay water play & Waterworks Fountains, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford on

Gauging Square fountains, Wapping

Goodman’s Field fountains, Aldgate

The Children’s Play Pavilion & Park splash pad, Mile End Park on

St John at Hackney Churchyard Gardens fountains, Hackney Central off

Britannia Leisure Centre pool splash pad (indoor), Hoxton on

Leyton Leisure Centre pool splash pad (indoor), Leyton on

Clissold Park splash pad, Stoke Newington (closed for refurb)

London Fields paddling pool, Hackney (closed for refurb)

Aldgate Square fountains, Aldgate

Fellowship Square fountains, Walthamstow on

Stubbers Adventure Centre paddling pool, Upminster

Stratford Park padding pool

Broadgate Exchange Play Fountains, Liverpool Street on

South 

St. Mary’s Churchyard Park fountains, Elephant & Castle

Elephant Springs water play, Elephant Park, Elephant & Castle on

Wimbledon Sprinkler Park, Wimbledon off

Sir Joseph Hood Playing Fields paddling pool, Motspur Park

Kingston Market Square fountains, Kingston

Danson Splash Park, Bexleyheath

Southwark Park splash pad, Bermondsey on

Brockwell Park wet play, Lambeth on

Myatt’s Fields splash pad, Camberwell on

Norwood Park water play, Gipsy Hill (closed all summer)

Royal Arsenal Riverside fountains, Woolwich on

Ruskin Park paddling pool, Denmark Hill on

Rookery Paddling Pool, Streatham Common on

Clapham Common paddling pool, Clapham (closed until further notice)

North Sheen Recreation Ground paddling pool, Richmond

Vine Road Recreation Ground paddling pool, Barnes on

Wells Park water play, Sydenham on

Greenwich Park Playground water play, Greenwich on

Peckham Rye Park water play, Peckham off

Beddington Park water play, Sutton on

Croydon Road Recreation Ground paddling pool, Beckenham on

Magic Garden water play, Hampton Court Palace on

London Bridge Pier fountain on

West

Fountain Park Way fountains, Westfield, Wood Lane on

Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, Hyde Park on

John Madejski Garden paddling pool/fountains, V&A, South Kensington on

Kensington Memorial Park Water Play Area, Ladbroke Grove on

Duke of York Square fountains, Chelsea off

Duke’s Meadows paddling pool, Chiswick on

Merchant Square fountains, Paddington Basin on

Design Museum fountains, Kensington on

London Wetland Centre water-play area, Barnes on

Castlenau Recreation Ground paddling pool, Barnes on

Bishop’s Park water play, Putney

Kew Gardens Children’s Garden, Kew on

Ruislip Lido splash pad, Ruislip on

Ravenscourt Park paddling pool, Hammersmith (closed until further notice)

Palewell Common & Fields paddling pool, East Sheen on

Central

Edmond J Safra Fountain Court at Somerset House on

Russell Square Gardens fountain, Bloomsbury

Coram’s Fields paddling pool Bloomsbury on

Causton Street Playground water play, Pimlico

Leicester Square fountains, West End

Marylebone Green Playground water play, Regents Park, Marylebone on

More London Riverside Fountains, London Bridge on

Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms, Southbank Centre, Waterloo on

Further afield

Swanley Park water park, Swanley, Kent

Walmer Paddling Pool, Walmer, Kent

Stanborough Park Splashlands, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

Splash ‘n’ Play, Willen Lake, Milton Keynes

Lakeside Shopping Centre fountains, Grays, Essex

The Strand Leisure Park, Gillingham, Kent

Bancroft Recreation Ground splash park, Hitchin, Hertfordshire

Howard Park splash park, Letchworth, Hertfordshire

Royston Splash Park, Royston, Hertfordshire

Stoke Park paddling pool, Guildford

Cassiobury Park splash pools, Watford, Hertfordshire

Willen Lake splash park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Verulamium Splash Park, St. Alban’s on

King George Recreation Ground splash park, Bushey on

Bab & Shrimp play in the Lewis Cubitt Square fountains, King’s Cross