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
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
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