logo
First look at huge new £200million indoor waterpark opening in the UK with aquadrome and adventure zone

First look at huge new £200million indoor waterpark opening in the UK with aquadrome and adventure zone

Scottish Sun23-05-2025

IT will be the first for the waterpark chain in the UK
MAKE A SPLASH First look at huge new £200million indoor waterpark opening in the UK with aquadrome and adventure zone
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A HUGE new £200million waterpark and 500-room hotel has revealed new images of what could look like when it opens in the UK.
The Great Wolf Resorts waterpark is set to be built on the site of Basingstoke Golf Centre.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
5
New images have revealed what to expect from the new Great Wolf waterpark in the UK
Credit: Great Wolf Lodge
5
Pools and adventure park are some of the early plans
Credit: Great Wolf Lodge
5
No opening date has been confirmed for the Basingstoke resort
Credit: Great Wolf Lodge
During a recent public consultation, directors from the US-based company explained their vision for the waterpark to the public.
The initial designs for how the resort would look were revealed, including a grand lobby, guest suites, waterpark, aquadrome, adventure park and conference space.
A 500-bed hotel is also part of the plans along with an outdoor swimming pool
The designs reveal that the park would have walkways through landscaped grounds and an entrance via the Worthing Road roundabout.
According to the Basingstoke Gazette, a spokesperson for Great Wolf Lodge said: "We have been exploring opportunities to expand our signature Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park resort experience beyond North America, and we are excited by the growth potential within the UK market."
Little else is known about the holiday park including when it could open, although it has been suggested it could be by 2029.
And in the US, a one-night stay for a family of four at a Great Wolf Resort in the US starts from $199 (£157) a night, so could be similar prices.
Great Wolf Lodge is also looking at a number of other UK sites, including Bicester and Clowne.
They explained: "We are currently reviewing multiple potential locations in the UK, with public exhibitions upcoming for sites in Clowne and Hampshire, which we have strong interest in developing.
"These two sites, along with a location in Oxfordshire that we previously received planning approval for, will help us reach a large concentration of UK families."
Huge AquaCity waterpark in Poprad
Earlier this month, designs for a similar waterpark with a 500-room hotel were revealed for the village of Clowne in Derbyshire.
The site would include a massive waterpark, hotel, conference centre, golf facilities, a games arcade and restaurants.
If approved for the site of a former colliery that shut back in 1961, the project could create up to 500 jobs.
At the time, council leader Jane Yates said: "This is an exciting project that will certainly put us on the map.
"This proposal not only meets this but will provide us with leisure opportunities fit for 21st-century living."
And the Bicester resort will be similar, with a 498-room hotel with themed rooms, as well as an indoor waterpark and miniature golf.
Great Wolf Resorts currently operates more than 20 family attractions across the US and Canada, having first launched in 1997.
It's not the only huge waterpark wanting to open in the UK.
Therme Manchester, a huge £250million water attraction, will have indoor swimming pools, swim up bars and even an all-weather beach.
It hopes to open by 2028, after being delayed by Covid.
And here is what it is like living in the "UK's waterpark capital" according to one mum.
In the mean time, we've rounded up the best outdoor water parks and lido you can currently visit in the UK.
5
The new designs also showed the access routes to the resort, including to the villas and pools
Credit: Great Wolf Lodge

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Cardiff restaurant named among UK's best at national awards
Cardiff restaurant named among UK's best at national awards

South Wales Argus

time30 minutes ago

  • South Wales Argus

Cardiff restaurant named among UK's best at national awards

The National Restaurant Awards took place on Monday (June 9), celebrating "the brilliance and vibrancy of the UK restaurant scene, honouring the best chefs and operators across the country". Awards handed out at the annual event included: National Restaurant of the Year Gastropub of the Year Chef of the Year Cocktail List of the Year Wine List of the Year Opening of the Year Best Restaurant in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (four individual awards) A list of the UK's top 100 restaurants was also revealed, featuring one Cardiff-based restaurant - Gorse. The best restaurants in the UK The best restaurants in the UK, according to the National Restaurant Awards, are: Why Gorse is among the UK's best restaurants Gorse was ranked the 56th best restaurant in the country at the National Restaurant Awards. It has been described as a "tiny yet brilliant modern Welsh restaurant" and made history in 2025 by bagging Cardiff its first ever Michelin star. The National Restaurant Awards said: "Not bad going given that Gorse is the chef's debut restaurant and had been open for less than 12 months." Gorse: Cardiff's First MICHELIN Star, As Seen By Our Inspectors@gorserestaurant #Cardiff #MICHELINStar Dive deep into the latest MICHELIN Star in Wales, and the first in its capital, with this Inspector's-eye view of a truly wonderful dining experiencehttps:// — The MICHELIN Guide (@MichelinGuideUK) February 11, 2025 The "unassuming" Pontcanna restaurant (named after the shrub) is focused on seasonal Welsh produce and is fronted by chef Tom Waters. The awards website continues: "Gorse is one of the most accessible fine dining restaurants on this list offering tasting menus from as little as £60 per head. "But the longer tasting menu is where the kitchen's ambition shines, with standout dishes including the likes of Pembrokeshire mackerel with horseradish, lovage and apple; roasted kelp custard with N25 Kaluga Hybrid caviar; and a clever dish of rhubarb partnered with toasted hay cream, egg yolk jam and lavender. "Service is polished but relaxed with the minimalist Nordic-inspired 22-cover interior keeping the focus firmly on the food. "Striking a balance between classic and new wave winemakers, Gorse's wine list complements Waters' cooking beautifully but don't miss out on the restaurant's signature Martini, which is flavoured with local seaweed." Customers agree Michelin star Gorse is "exquisite" It's not just the experts who love Gorse, but customers as well, with it boasting a 4.8 (out of 5) rating on Tripadvisor from 25 reviews. Surpurlatives used to describe the Pontcanna restaurant by visitors include "exquisite", "unbelievable" and "outstanding". One person, commenting about their experience at the restaurant, said: "I had the 10 course menu with wine pairings - each course was delicious and the wine was paired perfectly. "The staff were attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. Well deserving of a Michelin star." RECOMMENDED READING: Another customer added: "Exquisite just about covers it.... sublime food, fantastic atmosphere, open kitchen and prep areas makes for an enhanced experience watching the meticulous detail from Tom and his team. "Matched with really interesting and very reasonably priced wine (especially the 5% Contero Moscat meaning I could enjoy the dessert even more). "Pontcanna continues to shine in the food universe."

100,000 electric vehicle charging points to be installed with £381m funding
100,000 electric vehicle charging points to be installed with £381m funding

Rhyl Journal

time30 minutes ago

  • Rhyl Journal

100,000 electric vehicle charging points to be installed with £381m funding

The cash aims to help the uptake of electric cars among motorists who do not have their own driveways and charging points. The new charging points come on top of 80,000 already installed publicly across the UK, and tens of thousand more installed privately. Transport minister Lilian Greenwood said: 'This Government is powering up the EV revolution by rolling out a charge point every 29 minutes, and our support to roll out over 100,000 local charge points in England shows we're committed to making even more progress. 'We're delivering our Plan for Change by investing over £4 billion to support drivers to make the switch, while backing British car makers through international trade deals – creating jobs, boosting investment and securing our future.' The money comes from the Government's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund, which helps councils to instal new EV charging points. Meanwhile, in a sign of growing market confidence in EVs, London-based firm Believ has secured £300 million to roll out charging points across the UK.

Oil prices soar after Israel launches strikes on Iran's capital
Oil prices soar after Israel launches strikes on Iran's capital

North Wales Chronicle

timean hour ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Oil prices soar after Israel launches strikes on Iran's capital

The price of Brent crude jumped nearly 10% higher at one stage before easing back a little to stand 7% higher at 74 US dollars a barrel. London's FTSE 100 Index dropped 0.6%, down 56 points to 8828.6, in early morning trading on Friday after heavy overnight losses on Asian stock markets as the worries spooked investors, with the UK's top tier falling back from a record high set in the previous session. The strikes by Israel on Iran's capital Tehran early on Friday are said to be the most significant attack the country has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq and have led to concerns over an all-out conflict between the two Middle Eastern countries. In Washington, the Trump administration said it had not been involved in the attack and warned Iran not to retaliate against US interests or personnel. It threatens disruption to the supply of crude from the Middle East while some traders flagged concerns it could also impact the flow of liquified natural gas (LNG) if tensions escalate. Rising oil prices could threaten to push up inflation in the UK, possibly impacting the outlook for further interest rate cuts. The Bank of England has been cutting rates but, as inflation strays further from the 2% target, it has less leeway to bring down borrowing costs. Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'It's not just the outlook for Iranian exports that's a concern but also the potential for disruption to shipping in the Persian Gulf's Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about 20% of global oil flows and an even higher proportion of liquified natural gas haulage.' He added: 'The escalation of military action adds another factor to consider for central bankers in an already complex world as they weigh up the inflationary impact of ever-changing tariff rates and a weakening outlook for jobs and growth.' On the London market, oil giants BP and Shell were among the biggest risers on the steep gains in the cost of crude, with shares up 2% for both firms. Aerospace giant BAE Systems was also moving higher as the threat of a full-scale war in the Middle East put defence stocks back in the spotlight, with the stock up 3%. But London-listed airlines were down sharply, hit by a double whammy as rising oil prices spell higher fuel costs for the sector and following the devastating air crash in India. British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines fell more than 4% and easyJet was just under 4% lower in morning trading. Gold prices also leaped towards another fresh record as investors raced for safe haven assets, which could see it breach the 3,431 US dollars-an-ounce high set earlier this month. Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, said: 'If the oil price continues to climb towards 100 US dollars in the coming days, then we could see the interest rate futures market price out rate cuts from the US and Europe, which may add to downside pressure on stocks. 'However, if there is no nuclear escalation, then we think we could see oil prices settle back around 70 US dollars per barrel.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store