The car temperature gauge is creeping up, paddling pools are sold out and the rumours that warm weather is coming to the UK are looking like they’re going to be true. But where to find some respite in Somerset with a heatwave on the horizon? Whether you’re a local who knows every lane in the county or a visitor who’s landed in Somerset mid-heatwave, this guide on the best places to cool off in Somerset is for you!
The county has ancient gorges, tidal beaches, shaded woodland, marine lakes, and some of the most atmospheric cool-dark caves you’ll find anywhere in the UK. Venture a little further and you’ve also got Bristol – home to some brilliant lidos, outdoor pools, and even a world-class surfing lagoon.
This is your guide to the best places to cool off in Somerset – from wild swimming holes and sea breezes to heated lidos, a surfing lake, and underground adventures where the temperature drops the moment you step through the entrance. Ready? Let’s find somewhere lovely to take a dip!
Quick Picks:
Short on time? Here’s the fast version.
| What you need | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Sea breeze + sand | Brean Beach or Weston-super-Mare |
| Tidal saline lake swimming | Clevedon Marine Lake or Weston Marine Lake |
| Wild river swimming | Warleigh Weir or the River Barle, Exmoor |
| Heated outdoor lido | Shepton Mallet Lido or Portishead Open Air Pool |
| High-end lido experience | The Lido Bristol |
| Surf & wave action | The Wave Bristol |
| Free splash park | Cribbs Water Garden or Weston Water Adventure Park |
| Cool underground escape | Wookey Hole Caves |
| Shaded woodland walk | Ebbor Gorge or Fyne Court |
Outdoor Swimming in Somerset
Clevedon Marine Lake
On the northern Somerset coast, Clevedon Marine Lake is a tidal seawater lake in a Victorian seafront setting. The giant inifinity pool welcomes families, open-water swimmers, paddleboarders, and people just dangling their feet all year-round, and more so, obviously, in hot weather.
Check the website for water quality before going.
Perfect for: Families, open-water swimming newbies, anyone who wants sea swimming without the current risk.
Weston Marine Lake, Weston-super-Mare
Most people know Weston for the beach and the pier, but the Marine Lake, tucked along the seafront next to Knightstone Island was unbeknownst to me for years.
It’s over 200 metres long (one of the largest of its kind in the world), fed by the Bristol Channel, and you can swim, splash, float, or paddle without having to wait for the tide to be right. When the tide is in and the water level is high, it creates an extraordinary infinity-lake effect. There’s a freshwater lakeside shower and a sandy beach around the edge, making it brilliant for families wanting something slightly wilder than a standard pool.
Location: Marine Parade, Weston-super-Mare, next to Knightstone Causeway.
Lidos and Outdoor Pools: Somerset and Bristol’s Best
If wild swimming isn’t quite your thing but you still want outdoor water on a hot day, Somerset and Bristol have several outdoor pools – from community lidos heated by an actual cider factory to a Victorian urban pool with a poolside tapas restaurant. Take your pick.
Street Open Air Pool (Greenbank Pool)
Greenbank Pool in Street has a big main pool for adults and older kids, a shallow pool with a small slide, a mini splash pool, and a water play area with fountains set on a soft, squishy surface – ideal for little ones. The water is warm, the lawns are great for a post-swim picnic, and if you’ve not eaten, Clarks Village is right next door.
Fair warning: it does get very busy in hot weather. It’s worth going mid-week if you can, or arriving early in the morning.
Location: Middlebrook Road, Street. Around an hour from Bristol. Check their website for opening times and pricing.
Shepton Mallet Lido
Shepton Mallet’s outdoor pool is one of the best stories in Somerset swimming. The lido dates back to the 1950s and was refurbished in 2006 – but the really good bit is that it’s heated using recycled heat from the Brothers Cider factory next door. The pool is eco-friendly, community-run, and has a shallow toddler pool, fountains and water jets, and a children’s play area on the grass for when tots need a break from the water.
It’s seasonal (typically open May to September) and on hot days it gets busy fast. Book ahead if you can, or arrive early.
Location: Shepton Mallet town centre. Check the pool’s Facebook page for current opening hours and admission prices.
Portishead Open Air Pool
Perched above the Bristol Channel in Portishead, this heated lido is one of the most scenic outdoor pools in the region. The main pool is large and there’s a shallow toddler pool alongside it, and the amphitheatre-style seating steps give everyone a view across the Channel to Wales.
It’s heated using green energy, well-maintained by the local community trust, and has a tuck shop and on-site café. Arrive early, pack a picnic, and make a day of it.
Location: Lake Road, Portishead. Check Portishead Lido website for seasonal opening times and prices.
Bristol Lido, Clifton
Bristol Lido in Clifton is the kind of place that feels like being on holiday. This low-chlorine, heated, infinity-style pool has a poolside restaurant serving tapas and cold drinks on one side and Victorian dressing rooms on the other. For non-members, you can pre-book a two-hour session (swim, sauna, steam, hot tub) from £25. Kids are welcome in the pool between 2-4pm during non-member sessions (£7.50 per child aged 4-17).
It’s a treat rather than a casual splash, but on a heatwave day it is absolutely worth it. Book in advance.
Location: Clifton, Bristol. Book via their website.
River Swimming on Exmoor: Tarr Steps & the River Barle
For the wilder end of things, the River Barle near Tarr Steps – the ancient clapper bridge that may be over 3,000 years old – has popular swimming spots just upstream and downstream of the bridge. The water is cold, the banks are grassy and shaded by ancient oak woodland. Just pack a picnic, and bring a towel!
Getting there: Tarr Steps is signposted from Dulverton and Winsford. Parking at the top of the lane; it’s a 20-minute walk down to the bridge. Steep in places.
Safety note: Always check water levels before river swimming. After rainfall, rivers on Exmoor can rise quickly. Never swim in fast-moving water.
Water Parks, Wave Lagoons and Splash Parks
The Wave Bristol, Easter Compton
The Wave Bristol is one of the most extraordinary things to open in the Bristol region in years. It’s an inland surfing lagoon – a technology-driven wave pool that creates perfect, consistent surf completely independent of weather or tides. Located at Easter Compton just outside Bristol, it’s attracted everyone from first-timers to experienced surfers since opening in 2019, and on a heatwave day it is a great place to be.
If your kids aren’t old enough to surf (or you just want to splash rather than stand up), the Play in the Bay sessions are perfect – one-hour family sessions in the shallows with bodyboards and water aids, suitable for all ages (under-8s need an adult on a 1:1 ratio). There’s also a playground and picnic area outside. Pre-booking is essential.
Location: Easter Compton, near Bristol. Book sessions on their website.
Cribbs Water Garden, Cribbs Causeway
The seasonal Cribbs Water Garden outside the Mall at Cribbs Causeway is a great little splash park with splash streams, and a wooden pirate ship that small children will happily inhabit for the best part of an afternoon. It’s free, it’s right outside the shopping centre so there are toilets and food options galore, so you can just pitch up with a towel and a change of clothes and let the kids loose. Round up the fam, pack a picnic, and make a morning of it.
Location: Outside The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol. Seasonal – check the mall website for opening dates each year. Free entry.
Weston Water Adventure Play Park
Weston’s splash park sits right on the Weston-super-Mare seafront next to Melrose Car Park, alongside one of the town’s large play areas. The water play zone has fountains, sprays, and rain showers. Typically open from mid-April through September; free to use.
Combine it with the beach, an ice cream on the prom, and (if the kids need a break from the sun) a go on the Grand Pier indoor rides for a full Weston day out. Plan your day out in Weston using my bumper guide on sister blog, This Bristol Brood.
Location: Seafront, Weston-super-Mare, next to Melrose Car Park. Free entry; seasonal opening.
Best places to eat in Weston-super-Mare
The Newt in Somerset, Near Bruton
The Newt is one of Somerset’s most spectacular estates – a luxury hotel and gardens near Bruton. The gardens are extraordinary in any season, but in a heatwave the Four Seasons Garden is particularly worth knowing about. At its heart is a series of water fountains and streams surrounded by beautiful flowers. Visit the ‘Summer’ garden on a hot summer’s day when the lavender is in full bloom and you could be in a Tuscan landscape.
There’s also a ‘sheep dip’ style trough with sunflower sprinklers that comes into its own on a hot day. Pair with gelato and you’re onto a winner.
The wider gardens are also well shaded by mature planting, and the estate has excellent facilities including a café and farm shop. You do have to be a member to enter, so if you’re local it’s not much more than a National Trust membership, plus you get entry to other marvellous UK gardens.
Getting there: Hadspen, near Castle Cary. Garden entry charged; hotel guests and members have different access. Book via their website.
Best places to Cool off Indoors
Wookey Hole Caves
Underground at Wookey Hole, the temperature is a constant 11°C. Eleven. Degrees. In the middle of a heatwave, stepping into the dark, cool of the cave system is just the ticket. Illuminated caverns carved by the River Axe over millions of years, with dramatic stalactites and stalagmites and a resident “witch”.
Above ground, there’s a museum, Victorian Penny Arcade, 4D cinema and various other things to keep younger kids occupied. The caves themselves take around 40 minutes to tour and the temperature difference is startling.
Practical info: There’s a large car park, a decent café, and full facilities. Located just outside Wells on the B3139.
Cheddar Gorge Caves
Winter or summer, the temperature at Gough’s Cave at Cheddar Gorge is a constant 11°C, giving your core temperature a chance to drop! The cave system is spectacular: vast illuminated chambers carved by an underground river over millions of years.
Cox’s Cave is smaller with tighter, more jewel-like formations. Both caves are included in the Cheddar Gorge & Caves ticket.
Practical info: Book online in advance. The caves are in Cheddar village, which can get very busy – arrive early or after 3pm for a much easier experience. There’s a café, and full facilities on site.
Hot Weather Safety in Somerset: A Quick Note
Before you head out, a few things worth knowing.
Open water swimming: Never swim alone, especially in rivers, reservoirs, or unfamiliar coastal spots. Cold water shock is a risk even in summer – wade in slowly rather than jumping. Check local water quality; the Environment Agency publishes live data. Avoid river swimming after heavy rainfall – levels rise fast on Exmoor. Never swim near weirs, drainage channels, or water intakes.
Enjoyed this guide? Check out our roundup of the 50 Amazing Things to Do in Somerset to plan more of your Somerset adventures – whatever the weather.
Having the opposite problem with the weather? Read my rainy day things to do indoors in Somerset guide here.
