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
Lewis Cubitt Square Fountains, King’s Cross
Rosemary Gardens water play, Islington
Highbury Fields water play, Islington
Priory Park paddling pool, Hornsey
Lordship Recreation Ground paddling pool, Tottenham
Bruce Castle Park paddling pool, Tottenham
Whittington Park water play, Archway
Barnard Park water play, Islington
Animal Adventure water play at ZSL London Zoo, Camden Town
King Square Gardens splash pad, Islington
Gloucester Gate Playground water play, Regent’s Park, Camden Town
Parliament Hill Paddling Pool, Hampstead Heath, Hampstead
Queen’s Park Padding Pool, Queen’s Park
Union Park play fountain, Wembley
Finsbury Park splash play, Finsbury Park
Elthorne Park Playground water play, Hornsey
Swiss Cottage Open Space splash pad, Swiss Cottage
Kilburn Grange Park splash pad, Kilburn
Paradise Park splash pad, Islington
East
Victoria Park Splash Pool, Hackney
Tumbling Bay water play & Waterworks Fountains, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford
Gauging Square fountains, Wapping
Goodman’s Field fountains, Aldgate
The Children’s Play Pavilion & Park splash pad, Mile End Park
St John at Hackney Churchyard Gardens fountains, Hackney Central
Britannia Leisure Centre pool splash pad (indoor), Hoxton
Leyton Leisure Centre pool splash pad (indoor), Leyton
Clissold Park splash pad, Stoke Newington
London Fields paddling pool, Hackney (closed for refurb)
Aldgate Square fountains, Aldgate
Fellowship Square fountains, Walthamstow
Stubbers Adventure Centre paddling pool, Upminster
Broadgate Exchange Play Fountains, Liverpool Street
South
St. Mary’s Churchyard Park fountains, Elephant & Castle
Elephant Springs water play, Elephant Park, Elephant & Castle
Wimbledon Sprinkler Park, Wimbledon
Sir Joseph Hood Playing Fields paddling pool, Motspur Park
Kingston Market Square fountains, Kingston
Danson Splash Park, Bexleyheath
Southwark Park splash pad, Bermondsey
Brockwell Park wet play, Lambeth
Myatt’s Fields splash pad, Camberwell
Norwood Park water play, Gipsy Hill (closed all summer)
Royal Arsenal Riverside fountains, Woolwich
Ruskin Park paddling pool, Denmark Hill
Rookery Paddling Pool, Streatham Common
Clapham Common paddling pool, Clapham (closed until further notice)
North Sheen Recreation Ground paddling pool, Richmond
Vine Road Recreation Ground paddling pool, Barnes
Wells Park water play, Sydenham
Greenwich Park Playground water play, Greenwich
Peckham Rye Park water play, Peckham
Beddington Park water play, Sutton
Croydon Road Recreation Ground paddling pool, Beckenham
Magic Garden water play, Hampton Court Palace
West
Fountain Park Way fountains, Westfield, Wood Lane
Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, Hyde Park
John Madejski Garden paddling pool/fountains, V&A, South Kensington
Kensington Memorial Park Water Play Area, Ladbroke Grove
Duke of York Square fountains, Chelsea
Duke’s Meadows paddling pool, Chiswick
Merchant Square fountains, Paddington Basin
Design Museum fountains, Kensington the museum has informed me that this fountain is intended as an art installation and not a play fountain, so bear in mind you may be asked not to play in it
London Wetland Centre water-play area, Barnes
Castlenau Recreation Ground paddling pool, Barnes
Bishop’s Park water play, Putney
Kew Gardens Children’s Garden, Kew
Ruislip Lido splash pad, Ruislip
Ravenscourt Park paddling pool, Hammersmith
Palewell Common & Fields paddling pool, East Sheen
Central
Edmond J Safra Fountain Court at Somerset House
Russell Square Gardens fountain, Bloomsbury
Coram’s Fields paddling pool Bloomsbury
Causton Street Playground water play, Pimlico
Leicester Square fountains, West End
Marylebone Green Playground water play, Regents Park, Marylebone
More London Riverside Fountains, London Bridge
Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms, Southbank Centre, Waterloo
Further afield
Swanley Park water park, Swanley, Kent
The Harlow Splash Park, Harlow, Essex
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
King George Recreation Ground splash park, Bushey
Roma cools off in Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms, Southbank Centre
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