I went to the ‘world's best waterpark' just three hours from the UK and it's like being on another planet
Eight miles north of Poitiers in France, there are three things that make this water park stand out from the crowd.
5
5
Firstly, Aquascope is an indoor attraction – an absolute blessing for us in the 35C heat in France at the time so no chasing everyone around with the factor 50.
It is also is on the same site as major French attraction Futuroscope, if you wanted more theme park elements.
But by far the most appealing thing about Aquascope is that it combines its hardcore water features with truly impressive tech effects, so it feels, in the words of my youngest, 'like you're swimming around inside a cool video game'.
Think lights, screens and cascading colour and you're on the right lines.
Picture the scene. Two spiral stairways, each signposting a route to the top of a different slide.
Everyone carries their inflatable rafts up (depending on the slide, there are four-seater inflatables, two-seaters; one-seaters; mats with handlebars; and slides that you don't need any accessory for).
You can even watch through the transparent tubes, showing you the people ahead of you squealing down.
We counted eight slides in total, each offering a completely different thrill.
Scots waterpark crowned 'best in the country' to reopen in weeks
5
We loved 'Alien' (a tube raft race with some serious skids and swirls) and 'Sprint' (like head-first bodyboarding).
'Quick' was exactly as it sounds, a short sharp bolt with one free-fall funnel stretch. After four goes, I lost count of how many times we waited in line for that one.
The most adrenaline-pumping? For us, that was a toss-up between 'Spiral', a 130m of giddy twists, nail-biting speed, and deep-pool plunge.
And 'Rocket', where you step inside a space capsule and count down to lift-off when the floor disappears beneath your feet.
The most impressive thing about Aquascope was that in addition to the crazy slides there's a totally different change of pace and vibe at Aquascope's Abysses-de-Lumière, an underworld of fairytale caves and canyons.
One minute you're swimming right up to a massive, mesmerising screen, then meteors crash around you, then you feel like you're swimming underwater with cute sea creatures.
5
There's a lazy river too that carries you along in floats beneath a magical sky.
There is also an outdoor section with a hotel-style pool where I managed to get my sun-lounger fix for a while.
Little ones meanwhile will be in their element in the minis zone with water maze, overhead soakers and a musical grotto.
As for Futuroscope next-door, that was surprising, because if you thought that a virtual-reality ride couldn't be as exhilarating as a rollercoaster, Futuroscope will make you eat your words.
In 'Extraordinary Journey' for example you whizz at breakneck speed around all the world's sights, sounds and even smells without leaving your seat.
It's just one of Futuroscope's 40 experiences, some of the type you'd expect at a theme park ('Destination Mars' your rollercoaster, brand-new 'Mission Bermuda' your aqua-flume),.
We couldn't get enough of Tornado Chasers (flee the storm before it swallows you!) and Robot Dance (its arm throwing you around to the DJ's beat drop).
The verdict? For us the combination of speed and special effects was a winning formula and so worth the drive.
If my grown-up kids AND my 58-year old husband had to be dragged away (the biggest kid of all), that tells you pretty much everything you need to know, right?
Here's More About Where To Stay and Eat at Aquascope...
Drive: via Le Shuttle from Folkestone, rolling off in Calais just 35 minutes later. Aquascope is an onward drive of around 6 hours. (To break up the journey with a day in Paris, a trip to Disneyland Paris, or a trip to Parc Asterix, spend a couple of nights at Eurocamp's Le Grand Paris.)
Stay at: Ecolodgées Hotel, serene cabins designed to restore peace after the day's high-energy.
Eat at: the Space Loop restaurant scoring high on fun factor. Order food on your table's screen then wait for it to land via mini rollercoaster.
For further details including pricing, restrictions, app etc. visit futuroscope.com/en
OR you can fly to Nantes from the UK, taking around 1h25, with Aquascope around two hours from there
5
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
44 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sculpture inspired by Jane Goodall Barbie doll to be unveiled to public
A sculpture inspired by Mattel's Barbie doll of Dame Jane Goodall and made entirely from recycled ocean plastic will be unveiled to the public in central London. The work by Slovakian-Bulgarian artist Daniela Raytchev called All Of Me will be displayed on board the tall ship Oosterschelde moored at Tower Bridge Quay on Monday. The event is part of a series of celebrations marking the return to the UK of the Darwin200 Global Voyage – a two-year international conservation expedition inspired by Charles Darwin's journey aboard HMS Beagle in the 1830s. The sculpture, made entirely from recycled ocean plastic collected by the expedition along the coastlines of Brazil and Uruguay, is based on Mattel's Barbie doll of Dame Jane, released in 2022 as part of its Inspiring Women Doll collection. Dame Jane is a renowned primatologist and widely considered the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees. She said: 'Daniela's sculpture puts the spotlight on the plastic crisis and highlights the importance of working together towards a better future for all.' Ms Raytchev said: 'I created this piece to show how working in harmony with nature can turn waste into a message of hope.' The Duke of Edinburgh visited the Dutch three-masted schooner on Friday – a day after its return to London – to recognise Darwin200's role in promoting environmental conservation around the world, and viewed the sculpture. Proceeds from the sale of the artwork will raise money for Darwin200 and Dame Jane's Roots & Shoots UK project, an environmental and humanitarian education programme for young people. Every year, more than 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the world's oceans – equivalent to one rubbish truck every minute, a spokesperson for the Darwin200 project said. The toy industry is 90% plastic-based and uses approximately 40 tonnes of plastic for every one million US dollars (£745,000) of revenue. In 2023, the global toy market reached 108.7 billion US dollars (£81 billion) in sales. According to the United Nations, if current trends continue there could be more plastic than fish by weight in the ocean by 2050. Members of the public will be invited aboard the historic tall ship between 10am and 1pm and between 2pm and 5.30pm on Monday. A panel discussing topics of creativity, scientific innovation, and environmental action will also take place at 3pm, with panellists including geologist and founder of Darwin200 Stewart McPherson, American actress and activist Rose McGowan, and Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Three great summer perfumes at all price points – one is the perfect subtle scent for everyday
A QUICK spritz of the right perfume can totally transform your mood – and summer scents are certainly some of the most addictive. Here are three of my favourites . . . BUDGET M&S Discover Salty Skin Eau de Toilette, £10 for 100ml, The notes of this perfume read like a list of all my favourite scents; tart bergamot, mandarin and lemon, lightly floral orange blossom and jasmine, comforting musk and amber. It reminds me of the smell when you open the balcony door of your air-conditioned hotel room to be hit with the warm, thick air outside that's holding the smell of sun-tan lotion and salty sea air. It's the perfect subtle scent for everyday that will still feel special every time you spray it, and given the price, you'd be hard pressed to find a better value fragrance. I can't imagine there's a single person who won't love it. MID-RANGE Roger & Gallet Vanille Soleil Fragrant Water, £39 for 100ml, Fragrance expert Alice du Parq aptly described this as the scent equivalent of a Mr Whippy ice cream topped with Maldon sea salt flakes. I can't think of a better way to convey the moreish, elevated vanilla perfume that's equally sweet and savoury – like all the best snacks. It's not at all sickly, despite the powdery notes of jasmine and tonka bean. It's the perfect 'old money' scent, that doesn't scream in your face or leave a trail behind you when you leave a room, but when people get close, it smells sophisticated and clean. I get stopped in the street by people asking where my perfume's from - it's a dupe of a designer scent & saves me £135 LUXURY Maison Margiela Never Ending Summer Eau de Toilette, £62 for 30ml, This perfume is an Aperol Spritz in a scent. It's fizzy, bright and packed with juicy bitter orange, rich, hearty cedarwood, sharp pepper and spicy cardamom, that make it the perfect late night summer scent cocktail to cut through humid climes. It's one of the few truly unisex holiday inspired scents on the market – with no hint of sun cream-style coconut that can quickly become extremely girly. It's grown up elegance, that's guaranteed to bring in compliments. PICK OF THE WEEK AUSSIE beauty products are having a major moment right now – they make some of the most sophisticated SPFs and they're talented when it comes to body care too. But the latest export to hit our shores - MCo Beauty - is about to shake up the affordable beauty space in a major way, given every single product in the range costs less than £15. If I have to pick a favourite, it's MCo Beauty Super Glow Bronzing Drops, £12, which can be used alone as a tinted base, mixed into foundation as you tan, or applied to cheeks as a bronzer. Shop now at
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Drew Barrymore, 50, shrugs off 'summer body' pressure as she suns herself on family yacht vacation
Drew Barrymore has once again demonstrated her refreshing normality - even while indulging in a luxury yacht holiday. The 50-year-old actress and talk show host was spotted spending quality time with her two daughters on a yacht off the South of France.
