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Waterworld (Staffordshire)
Waterworld
Festival Park, Etruria,
Hanley, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire,
ST1 5PU
Tel: 01782 205747
About Waterworld
WaterWorld is part of the colourful Festival Park at Etruria, in Hanley, not far from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. It’s Britain’s premier water park, with 400,000+ visitors per annum. As one might expect of a family attraction where it pays to make a splash, it’s a family day out that emphasises fun.
With more than 30 quality rides and other features, WaterWorld is a family attraction that the weather cannot spoil, and ticket holders face a flood of captivating entertainment through the day, from white-knuckle flumes and roller-coaster rides, to splash and bubble pools, and a Wave Pool that goes from 0 to 1.8 metres deep.
Some of the key aspects of a family day out to WaterWorld are Nucleus, the UK’s first indoor water roller-coaster, which has ticket holders rafting along 345 feet of bumps and twists. Or there’s the six second blast of The Twister, with its head-spinning light and sound effects, as well as the mirth-inducing madness of the Four Lane Family Multi Slide, for a family day out with that extra dose of pizzazz.
Hours and hours of enjoyment are on offer at WaterWorld, whether simply taking it easy in the Spa and Bubble Pools, in The Lazy River by the Outdoor Pool, or in the palatial poolside zone and designer cafes. Or by contrast, WaterWorld ticket holders can indulge in the family attraction’s sensational high-octane rides, such as The Space Bowl, The Black Hole, The Python or The Super Flume, before taking in The Dynamic Wave Pool and Rapids.
One of the most popular rides at WaterWorld is The Twister, which was unveiled in 2001 and furnishes the adventurous with a gripping, hair-raising 55 metre journey that sees ticket holders hurtle along a flume of twisting, turning, choppy waters, with a drop of nearly 10 metres.
First opened in 1989 as one of the first rides at WaterWorld, The Black Hole is another superb water chute with more twists and turns than a race track. It sends thrill junkies spinning into churning waters below, following a zero-visibility ride down some 74 metres of tunnels for 13 seconds. The finale is a plunge down a slope of nearly 10 degrees – ideal for those seeking something different on a family day out!
The family attraction’s other 1989-vintage experience, The Python, is another spell-binding combination of twists, turns and, in this case, coils of white water, gushing for some 75 metres at 10 degrees, and clocking up 14 seconds of life-affirming action. Just the ticket!
The Space Bowl at WaterWorld was constructed in 1992 and is an enclosed chute for strong swimmers that spins them upside down and then drops them into a two-metre bowl-shaped splash pool, after a death-defying descent of nearly 20 degrees! Not for those of a nervous disposition, it’s a major draw on the fabulous family day out that is WaterWorld.
The Super Flume is also one of the must-do rides on the list of adrenaline fiends, having thrilled ticket holders to WaterWorld since it began operation back in 1989. Enclosed and stretching for 74 metres, with a 10 degree descent slope, it shakes, rattles and rolls for 14 seconds, living up to its billing as a flume of Supersize proportions.
The jewel in the crown, though, could well be the 1996 ride of rides at WaterWorld – The Nucleus. The country and, indeed, Europe’s first indoor water roller-coaster, it weighs in at over 104 metres of body-pounding bends, slopes and troughs, jolting raft riders into the air and water for nigh on 25 heart-racing seconds.
Retaining the momentum, the torrential WaterWorld Rapids are for a magnet for strong swimmers, who gather in groups of up to 30 – if you can find that many up to the challenge! They Rapids have been buffeting ticket holders since 1989 and present a last challenge before taking it easy by the poolside with WaterWorld’s many more relaxing features. Provided, that is, you don’t get diverted by the four lanes of Water Cannon, The Dynamic Wave Pool that creates ripples throughout the Wave Pool Area every 20 minutes, or if you decide to get busy at the daily Aqua Disco between 6.30 and 9pm.
For those wishing to wind down at WaterWorld, however, there are calming features aplenty to make the most of, from the Spa and Bubble pools (which, in common with the main pools have temperatures of 30-31 degrees C) to the eye-catching poolside beach, where the air temperature is maintained between 32C and 34C. Indeed, WaterWorld is blessed with a magnificent sun-bathing section and, in the summer, it becomes a sandy Caribbean beach. Children can put up sand castles, there’s a chilled BBQ and drinks area, and plenty of entertainment, not least Caribbean dancers and musicians.
Further catering for younger ticket holders, the WaterWorld Aqua Splash Jungle House was opened in 2005 and is one of four children-size rides in the Kiddies’ Play Area, which includes a Ship-Wreck Slide, an Assault Course where kids can swing and hop over several floating islands, and the water-spurting Mushroom, with its constantly flowing miniature waterfall. There are no adults in the zone, so it’s ideal for ticket holders wanting to get away from the family on a family day out! There’s also a demarcated shallow area for weak/non-swimmers, and birthday Parties are catered for with gifts, such as a free T-shirt for the birthday child (see details on the WaterWorld website).
After indulging in the aqueous attractions of WaterWorld, the Changing Rooms reassuringly offer secure lockers, hairdryers, showers, body dryers, family cubicles, single cubicles, baby changing facilities and disabled cubicles, meaning that everybody can have a fun family day out at WaterWorld (facilities detailed at the WaterWorld website).
After a grand family day out in the pool, there’s also the enticement of the Waters Edge Café and the new Cafe Bar, which were a key part of a multi-million revamp of the foyer. Furthermore, there’s a new Souvenir/Aqua Shop offering everything from swimming aids to souvenirs. WaterWorld is also available for corporate team-building, product launches and specialist functions for 1000+ people (see the WaterWorld website). With free parking and disabled facilities throughout, WaterWorld is a super family day out for everyone.