This medieval English town’s abandoned lido is being turned into a waterpark – and it opens this summer

Summer is just around the corner, and that means it is officially outdoor swimming season. We are already slipping on our swimsuits and setting our alarms to book those coveted lido spots. One town in Cambridgeshire is getting a brand new watery attraction this summer. The St Neots Splash Park will finally open in time for the May bank holiday after a year of renovation work. 

The splash park is taking over the medieval town’s abandoned lido on Huntingdon Road, near Priory Park. The historic St Neots Lido operated for 40 years before being closed and sealed up in 2003. Now St Neots Splash Park is finally getting ready to unveil the swimming spot’s £795,000 renovation, which was mostly funded by a £600,000 council grant. 

Family-friendly facilities in the brand new water park include a leaping water arch, a hydro blast and an aqua tent, which forms a dome of water for children to play underneath.

Works on the splash pad began last year. The Independent Professional Playground Safety Inspection was successfully completed this week, with final commissioning scheduled for the week commencing April 27. The park has confirmed it will have a ‘soft opening’ on May 2, in time for the bank holiday. The date of the official opening hasn’t been announced yet. 

A spokesperson for the park said they would be giving ‘local families the first opportunity to enjoy this new inclusive outdoor play space’. 

ICYMI: This nature paradise will be the most popular UK travel destination for Brits this summer. 

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