Beautiful views of the water wherever you stop to look at the water with plenty of amenities in…read moreterms of fishing,sailing,wind surfing,bird watching,running (A full Rutland Water lap is 23 miles which includes the peninsular,17 miles without,which is ideal for those of you that are training for large running events,such as The London Marathon or similar events. I used to trot around here as part of my training when I competed in the London Marathon - highly recommend,gets you in a great head space as you take in all the different views of the water. Walking,cycling & dog walking are other activities you can do,to name just a few,there is also *depending on the seasons a Rutland Water Aqua Park - but make sure you pre book as this is very popular. Normanton Park Church is a tourist hot spot as well as a Zoo! & a man made beach. There are plenty of cafes & children's play areas,with rock climbing (Rock Block). Hambleton peninsula is worth a visit with local pubs dotted around Rutland Water. We live near here & I think most Rutlanders will admit that they don't use the area as much as they should. Although we will be taking a wander to take a look at the new Sea Dragon which has just been unearthed

Great well conserved park…read more This is basically a large man made resevoir, underneath which is a village that was covered over with water when they made the resevoir. Great place for canoing and other water Sports. Many people hire cycles out or bring there own to go around the water, it quite a ride but makes a nice day out. Also great for walks, feeding the ducks, there is also a marina area and in the summer there are boat trips. Food is expensive so better to bring a picnic or packed lunch

Best park around. Has a little cafe with excellent and bacon baps (ham on a bun) for a walk around…read morethe park. It has swans, geese, ducks, seagulls and coots that you can feed. A former quarry, if you're lucky you can spy a kingfisher or a heron. Bathrooms and parking are here, with playground for kids if you have any.

5 hectares of lakes, riverbank and meadows to explore, close to the historic market town of Oundle…read more With three way marked waterside trails, numerous picnic spots, a wealth of wildlife and facilities, Barnwell Country Park is a great place for a family day out.

Bosworth Water Trust is a leisure park set over 50 acres, 20 acres of which is water - used for all…read moretypes of water sports. There you can go sailing, windsurfing and kayaking or have a days relaxing fishing. Day and season tickets are available for the lakes - there are two, a large and small. The small lake has less 'traffic' on it and is a quieter days fishing. There are hiring facilities for the water sports and you can pay for lessons. We've been a few time to use the caravan and camping site located on the side of the waters edge. The pitches aren't massive but it's not bad for a weekend.There are good washing and shower facilities for all who are camping. They have a small shop but it's not got loads in for the camper, I'd recommend bringing what you need. There is also a bar but I thought it was a bit expensive. For an afternoon it's a nice day out - there is a fairly good play area, space to kick a ball, a walk round the lake etc. I think it's only about £2 to get in. Outside the park, there is the town of Market Bosworth, Shackerstone Railway, Twycross Zoo and Bosworth Battlefield. Every year they host events such as the raft race or Hinckley half mararthon.

Hinksey is the park I tend to forget about and every time we go to the outdoor pool I think - why…read moredon't we come here more often? The answer is that we live on the other side of the city and Oxford has so many lovely green spaces. On the other hand Hinksey is just outside the centre of Oxford and has things the other parks don't have. There is a small children's play area, a lake on which there used to be pedalos for hire, a lake on which you sometimes see people sailing their radio controlled boats, tennis courts, fishing and the outdoor swimming pool. The paddling pool has been replaced by a free fountain / water feature play area. I've not been to this one at the right time of year but the one in Abingdon is great fun. Remember the fun of running under the hose in the garden? Fountain play areas recreate that experience. I've just looked at the city council website to check out the details for this park and I found out that it is a "Green Flag" winner. I've heard of different coloured flags being awarded to beaches but I didn't know there were flags for parks - I can feel myself just about to waste half an hour looking up other "green flag" parks to see if my other favorite places have won anything. (And I've found out from the website there are fresh water sponges and zebra mussels in the park - who'd have thought it!)

This is as good a park as any, and it's a lovely haven of green and fun. If you live in central…read moreOxford, there are plenty of nearer parks, but if you're young at heart or have kids, and if it's a warm day, this is definitely the place to be. Why? Water! There's a 'Splash' water feature, open from 10am-8pm May to September, but sometimes earlier in the year if it's warm enough. The outdoor swimming pool is brilliant: it's heated, free for under-17s and surrounded by sun-loungers. It's like being on holiday: sun, water and ice-cream, yet only a short drive from home. There's also tennis, fishing and a lake with a myriad of interesting birds (still waiting to catch a glimpse of a kingfisher!) and underwater life. A word of warning: if, like me, you enjoy evening walks with friends or a four-legged companion, watch out because although the park's always open (unlike the University Parks for example), there's no way to get a car in after a certain time. This changes throughout the year, the earliest being aroudn 5pm in winter, I think. Definitely worth checking, but not a disaster if it's shut, as there's plenty of parking nearby.

A great place to spend a beautiful sunny spring day! I'm amazed that I've been living in London for…read more3 years and somehow managed not to find this place until now even though I've driven to Stansted at least half a dozen times. D'oh! Parking costs a £5 for the day and about half that if you're arriving after 5pm. It's free for National Trust members. Don't worry if you've forgotten your sticker, just show them your card at the gate and you'll be issued with a little paper ticket. There are at least 3 car parks I can think of off the top of my head. One right at the entrance, one near the lake and one by the cafe. I'd drive right in and stop by the cafe as it offers the most central location, allowing easy access to all parts of the forest. There are lots of trails, open fields as well as forested areas so a bit of everything. I saw quite a few signs of bushcraft so if you're into that then this is a great place to put in some shelter building practice.

A great day out, couldn't recommend it highly enough…read more Lots for kids of all ages to do here, there's a large lake for fishing, an area for feeding geese and ducks, loads of tree's to climb, plenty of wildlife, and best of all LOADS OF SPACE! Great to ride to and around on a bike, the cafe does a great range of homemade pies that really are worth the trip alone. There's numerous sturdy picnic benches that seat up to 8, and at easter/xmas that do a little treasure hunt for the young uns, which my lot love. Get down there pronto, but if you are going to drive, please have the decency to pay to enter the car park. For years there have been loads of people parking on the road and entering for free, so finally double yello lines have been painted on. Sad but necessary.

Yay! I love coming here! Its always such fun for us and the kids!…read more There is a very big childrens park made out of wood and rope. Swings, climbing frames, slides, steps its all here! And there are toilets nearby. For the adults and bigger teens, there is a big assault course a short walk away. There is so much I havent seen at Stanwick Lakes as Ive been limited by the children but Im very pleased by what I have seen! I think parking is £1-£2 depending on the season.

lovely walks, all landscaped out of the former gravel pits alongside the A45 between Wellingborough…read more& Raunds the play area built from wood is great for kids & 'big kids' there's a really interesting interactive water feature also built from wood in the same area it is exposed to the elements, so wouldn't be much fun if the weather was bad

Earlswood Lakes is the name given to three reservoirs (Engine Pool, Windmill Pool and Terry's Pool)…read moreoriginally built in 1820, but that with the time which became also a popular destination for walking, fishing and sailing too. As a perfect spot to spending the day, The Earlswood Lakes is a very bucolic place next to the Village of Earlswood and just 30 minutes far from the city centre. You can bring your own food and have a picnic in the fishing decks, which I highly recommend, or if you are not afraid of some walking, just explore the village cafes and pubs. The Earlswood Lakes has inviting pathways that help you to experience the wildlife in this fabulous site. You can also get there by car for the M42, getting the junction A34 towards Birmingham and Shirley.

I absolutely love Earlswood Lakes, it's one of those places everybody should visit. We are really…read morelucky to live so close to such a glistening collection of pools. It's not far to drive to at all. I come here every summer to get some fresh air and to take in the relaxed surroundings. There's even a bridge for cars to drive over, so if you were feeling lazy, you don't even have to get out of your vehicle to experience Earlswood's wonders. There's lots of different walking pathways to take, and I don't think I've ever done them all myself. I often walk down the one side of the lakes, just to be envious of the humongous houses and land that people own. I usually imagine celebrities to live in some of the places, but I'm probably building my hopes up a little too much! I've also been to the Lakes during December when they are completely frozen over. It's a truly magical sight, with the pathways and trees coated in a white blanket. Earlswood Lakes is an amazing place to visit, whether it be in the summer or the winter.

For a grand day out :) Whether you want to walk, stroll,…read morepicnic, fish, watch the wild life or model boats this is the place just a few steps from the city centre. Onsite cafe, toilets and play area.

A very much loved boating lake! A great place to take a walk, fish, let the kids play or have a…read morequick and a bite to eat. The newly redone boating lake provides a great free place to have some family fun. My children love to go and feed the ducks, walk around the lake and play in the play area. The cafe is cheap and cheerful all you need really for a quick snack! There are toilets on site that are a bit basic but always seem clean. The best thing about the boating lake is the bonfire and fireworks display that Corby council put on every year for free! It really is spectacular!