The summer holidays are fast approaching and with the continual heat pounding down, you may be looking for an idea to entertain the kids during their time off and help them - and you - cool down. Well, in the heart of Cardiff's Canton lies Victoria Park where you will find a splash pad that has over 30 sprays, jets and features your kids will go wild for.
Spread across three zones for toddlers, juniors and families, on a sweltering hot day nothing sounds better than being drenched by a bucket of cool water before you dry off with an ice cream in hand from the booth within the park - Mamma's Place. If you're fancying something a little more savoury, they also do chips and burgers. So grab your bathers and give it a go. There's also a paddling pool in the park if you want something a little more relaxed.
You don't have to live in the area to enjoy this little splash pad as there are regular buses that stop right outside the park and while there isn't much parking there, if you're lucky you'll bag a spot in the parking spaces dotted around the streets surrounding the park - although be mindful of residential parking. For more what's on stories, sign up for our newsletter here.
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If chips and ice cream aren't quite your forte, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to food options around the park. On Cowbridge Road East - directly opposite one of the park's entrances, lies the likes of Ansh for burgers, The Dough Thrower for pizzas, Let Them See Cake for baked goods (cupcakes, macarons, cookies etc) and Pettigrew Bakery for sandwiches and other bakery delights.
During school time, the splashpad is open between 10am and 7pm on weekends, 12pm til 7pm on week days and during the school holidays, in the week it's 10am-7pm (apart from Wednesday, when it opens at 11am).
There are also "relaxed sessions for children with additional needs", which in term time are held between 11am and midday and during the holidays 10am and 11am.
Once you or your kids get bored of the splashpad (although, that seldom happens quickly), there is a children's playground, a beach volley ball club and free-of-charge tennis courts to make use of. For a dose of history, marvel at the cast iron bandstand - erected in 1897 original and then replicated in 1996 - the cast iron fountain canopy and Billy the seal sculpture; a bronze sculpture that payed homage to the park's most famous resident who lived in its zoo in the early 20th century. Read more on that here.
This isn't the only splash pad you can take your little ones too this summer. In Swansea, you can pay Blackpill Lido a visit, while in Aberdare you can enjoy the fun features at Aquadare.
Caerphilly's Morgan Jones Park also has a fun splashpad alongside Barry's Pencoedtre Splash Park and Lido Ponty. For more water parks and swimmings pools in Wales, see here.
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