When the temperature climbs, London’s splash parks become some of the most popular spots in the city. Most are free, most are open from late May through to September, and they range from a few water jets in a local park to a full-scale art installation on the Southbank.
The tricky part is knowing which ones are open, when they open, and whether they’re worth the journey with kids in tow. This guide covers the best splash parks in London by area, with opening dates where we know them.
Don’t forget to bring towels and a change of clothes.
Our pick: Appearing Rooms at the Southbank Centre
If you visit one splash park in London this summer, make it Appearing Rooms. Created by artist Jeppe Hein, it’s one of the most unusual water play areas in the city. Jets spray four walls of water to create rooms that shift and change shape as you move between them, so it’s an art installation and a splash pad in one.
It opens on the Southbank Centre’s riverside terrace on 16 June and runs through the summer. Free to use, all ages, and right on the Thames.
📍 Southbank Centre, SE1 | All ages | Free | Opens 16 June
Splash parks in central London
Granary Square Fountains, King’s Cross
One of the best-known water play spots in London. Over 1,000 individually controlled jets rise and fall in sequences across the paving in front of the canal. It’s interactive, it’s free, and it’s busy on hot days — but big enough to absorb a crowd. Unlike most splash parks on this list, it runs year-round.
📍 King’s Cross, N1C | All ages | Free | Open daily
The Fountain Maze, Merchant Square
A maze of 320 water jets near Paddington Basin, arranged in concentric circles that rise and fall to create shifting gaps. The aim is to get through without getting wet. The aim is always unsuccessful. Note that the fountains switch off in high winds.
📍 Merchant Square, W2 | All ages | Free | Daily, 7am–8.30am, 10.30am–12pm, 2pm–7pm
Exchange Square, Broadgate
A large public park near Liverpool Street with water features that run through spring and summer. Open around the clock, so a good option if you’re passing through the City on a warm day.
📍 Broadgate, EC2A | All ages | Free | Open spring and summer
Splash parks in north London
Clissold Park splash pad, Hackney
One of the most popular splash pads in north London, with tipping buckets, water jets and spray features. Clissold Park is a lovely park in itself — deer, a café, a good playground — so it makes for a full morning out. You can walk up without booking, but pre-booking via the Better app guarantees your slot.
📍 Clissold Park, N16 | All ages | Free | Opens 23 May, 11am–6pm
Hampstead Heath paddling pool
The Parliament Hill paddling pool sits right next to the Parliament Hill playground and athletics track.
Somewhere between a paddling pool and a splash pad. It’s shallow, calm and well supervised, which makes it one of the better options for younger children. Worth knowing: it’s for under-8s only, and fills up on busy days. Reopens May 2026.
📍 Hampstead Heath, NW3 | 0–8yrs | Free | May–September, 10.30am–5pm
Barnard Adventure Playground, Islington
The water play area at Barnard Park is part of a wider adventure playground and open daily through the warmer months. A good local option for families in Islington.
📍 Barnard Park, N7 | All ages | Free | Open daily
Swiss Cottage Open Space
Easy to miss, but worth the visit. Tucked between Hampstead Theatre and the library, this open space has a splash area with water jets and ground-level play features, open most of the year and much quieter than the bigger parks.
📍 Swiss Cottage, NW3 | All ages | Free | Open daily, 7.30am–9.30pm
Splash parks in east London
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park fountains
Outside the London Stadium, 195 individually controlled water jets are set into the ground and light up with LEDs as it gets dark. The Tumbling Bay Playground nearby has a separate water play area too. The fountains close on Stadium event days, so worth checking before you make a trip of it.
📍 Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, E20 | All ages | Free | March–October, 10am–5pm
Victoria Park splash pool
A reliable summer staple for east London families. The splash pool at The Hub opens on the Spring Bank Holiday each year and runs until the last weekend of the summer holidays. It closes on rainy days.
📍 Victoria Park, E9 | All ages | Free | Opens 25 May, 11am–5pm (closes in rain)
Peninsula Square Fountains, Greenwich
A large public square at the entrance to The O2, with geysers and water jets that burst from the granite paving. A permanent installation that runs year-round. Worth pairing with a walk along the riverfront or a visit to the Greenwich Peninsula.
📍 Peninsula Square, SE10 | All ages | Free | Open daily
Splash parks in south London
Elephant Springs, Elephant + Castle
One of the most distinctive water play areas in London, full stop. Elephant Springs looks and feels completely different from a typical splash pad: cascading water channels, motion-activated jets, hand-operated pumps and sandy play areas set among rocky stone formations. It opened in 2021 and runs year-round.
📍 Elephant Park, SE1 | All ages | Free | Open daily
Clapham Common splash pad
A large, modern splash pad that replaced the old paddling pool in 2023. It has 41 water play features across 600 square metres — tipping buckets, fountains, interactive jets. Gets very busy on hot weekends; a weekday morning is a better bet if you can manage it.
📍 Clapham Common, SW4 | All ages | Free | Opens 23 May, 10am–7pm
Brockwell Park wet play area
The wet play area at Brockwell Park typically opens on the last Saturday of May and runs through to the last weekend of September. A natural pairing with a swim at the lido nearby.
📍 Brockwell Park, SE24 | All ages | Free | Opens last Saturday of May
Wimbledon Park splash pad
A seasonal splash pad in Wimbledon Park with six interactive paddling pools and water play areas. Good for families in south-west London who want something closer to home than the bigger destinations.
📍 Wimbledon Park, SW19 | All ages | Free | 15 June–6 September, 10am–5pm
Splash parks in west London
Bishops Park splash pad, Fulham
Three sets of water jets and a long sandy beach area, right by the Thames in Fulham. One of the earliest to open each year — already running from 1 May — and a good excuse for a riverside walk if you’re in the area.
📍 Bishops Park, SW6 | All ages | Free | 1 May–31 August, 10am–6pm
Ravenscourt Park paddling pool, Hammersmith
A splash pad with water jets and a sandy beach area in a lovely park with a café on site. Entry is free but you need to book a ticket via Eventbrite on the council’s website before you go.
📍 Ravenscourt Park, W6 | All ages | Free (ticket required) | Summer, 10am–5pm until 31 August
Kensington Memorial Park
A well-used water jet area in a local park in Kensington. It operates in two-hour sessions rather than running continuously, so check the times before you set off.
📍 Kensington Memorial Park, W10 | All ages | Free | April–September, daily 10am–6pm (timed sessions)
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, Kensington Gardens
London’s most visited playground has been closed since autumn 2025 for a £3 million overhaul, but is due to reopen this summer. The new water play area will feature a 12-metre crocodile sculpture that children can use to control the flow of water — one to look out for when it opens.
📍 Kensington Gardens, W2 | All ages | Free | Reopening summer 2026
Tips for visiting splash parks in London
Always bring towels and a change of clothes, including shoes. Wet trainers on the journey home are no fun.
The busiest spots are Granary Square, Appearing Rooms and Clissold Park, get very busy on weekend afternoons in July. A weekday morning is a much better experience.
Opening dates change each year. Check the venue’s website before making a long journey, especially early and late in the season.
Two parks require advance booking. Clissold Park recommends pre-booking via the Better app; Ravenscourt Park requires a free ticket via Eventbrite.
Happy splashing!