HOLIDAY park guru Robbie Lane has visited dozens of sites across the UK, cherry-picking his favourite destinations with the best indoor water parks for an autumnal getaway.

From water parks with seaside-themed slides and 60ft-high flume rides to huge indoor pools and tipping buckets, Robbie has recommended the best of the best.

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The former BBC journalist is the face behind the specialist website, Holiday Park Guru.

Robbie has covered everything, from adults-only trips to ski holidays and popular chains like Center Parcs and Butlin’s to little-known independent sites and budget-friendly breaks.

He recently told Sun Online Travel: “If you want a big range of activities and good swimming pools, then some good options include Butlin’s Skegness, Butlin’s Bognor Regis and Butlin’s Minehead.

“There’s also Craig Tara in Scotland, which is one of the larger Haven Resorts, and Trecco Bay in Wales.”

Robbie also added that other Haven and Parkdean sites also have “great swimming pools, splash parks and adventure villages”.

He added: “Center Parcs and Bluestone in Wales also have brilliant swimming pools and lots of activities; however, they tend to cost quite a lot more than the other brands.”

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Butlin’s, Skegness

The main pool at Butlin’s Skegness finally reopened earlier this year after it was forced to close back in November 2023.

Along with the main pool, the wave pool and the lazy river also reopened in July.

There are plenty of other features at the Skegness-based water park, including the 60ft-high Vortex Fast Flume, which sends riders into a spinning bowl.

Other rides include the Family Riptide Raft Ride and a children’s pool called Rockpool Cove for younger guests.

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Craig Tara, Scotland

The Splashaway Bay at Craig Tara is Scotland‘s biggest indoor water park, and it features two water flumes, a giant tipping bucket, a tots’ pool and water features.

One of the flumes has neon lights and three crystal-clear sections, so you can wave to your family while travelling down.

But it doesn’t end there. The other interactive flume allows you to time your ride and try to beat the fastest time of the day.

Although some activities are included, you could also add others for an additional cost.

The Haven’s holiday park also features an adventure village, crazy golf and a NERF training camp – described as a mixture of paintball and basketball.

There are even roller discos, slime-creation workshops and baby sensory rooms.

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Butlin’s, Bognor Regis

The second Butlin’s water park Robbie recommended was Splash at Bognor Regis.

According to its website, the water park has been “designed to bring the best of the British seaside inside” with a Helter Skelter-themed slide, Seaside Garden rapids and Stick of Rock slides.

There’s also an Adrenaline Flume ride and Racer slides for those who are looking for something a little more exhilarating.

Other areas include a wave pool and a children’s pool for younger or less confident swimmers.

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Trecco Bay, Wales

Elsewhere in Wales, Trecco Bay is a holiday park on a Blue Flag beach, making it ideal for those looking to enjoy a waterpark and sunbathe.

The ‘Splashland’ at Parkdean Resorts features a giant swimming pool with water chutes, waterslides, and a pirate ship attraction for children.

Plus, in the summer, there’s even an outdoor wet zone with shoots and water guns.

The park also has a high ropes course, an ‘Arts & Crafts Den’ and a climbing wall.

On top of that, there is a ‘Next Level Gaming Arena’ with the latest consoles and games to keep teenagers entertained.

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Butlin’s, Minehead

Just like the two other Butlin’s sites Robbie recommended, Minehead Splash Waterworld is home to water flumes and rides.

One of those is Master Blaster, a raft ride with a series of twists and turns.

There are other rides too, including Black Hole, Space Bowl and Blue Comet – one of the fastest rides at the water park.

Five new water attractions opening in the UK

1. Therme Manchester will have 25 swimming pools, 25 water slides and an indoor beach.
2. Modern Surf Manchester will be a surfing lagoon offering lessons to both beginners and experts.
3. Chessington World of Adventures Waterpark is set to have wave, infinity and spa pools as well as waterslides and cabanas.
4. The Cove Resort, Southport is likely to have a water lagoon and a thermal spa with steam rooms and saunas.
5. The Seahive, Deal plans to be the “surfing wellness resort” in the UK.

Last month, Robbie revealed England’s top three underrated holiday parks – with private beaches, indoor water parks and jet skis for kids.

And here are the other lesser-known holiday parks named among the best in the UK.

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HOLIDAY company TUI has added four new hotels to its portfolio in Brit-loved destinations like Italy, Tunisia and Turkey.

The TUI Blue Hotels will have features like a splash park, outdoor pools and colourful flume rides.

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They currently have hotels in Austria, Croatia, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.

The newly-announced properties include 4T TUI BLUE Budoni in Sardinia, Italy.

Located on Sardinia’s north-east coast, the hotel has two outdoor pools that sit alongside a splash park with four slides.

There’s also a Daytime activity programme that includes a host of activities like yoga, table tennis and exercise classes.

Other features include a buffet restaurant and a pizzeria where guests can grab a bite to eat at mealtimes.

TUI Blue has also opened two new properties in Tunisia.

Both the 4T+ TUI BLUE Manar and 4T TUI BLUE Palm Beach Hammamet are located in Hammamet, Tunisia.

The holiday resort was once dubbed the “St Tropez of Tunisia” thanks to affordable breaks.

Tourist numbers plummeted to the hotspot following a terrorist attack in Tunisia in 2015, where thirty Brits were killed at a hotel at Port El Kanaoui following a shooting on the beach.

Flights resumed to Tunisia back in 2018 after a ban was lifted, with the once-popular seaside resort town growing in popularity.

Just steps away from the beach, the 4T+ TUI Blue Manar is a family-friendly hotel that features an aquapark, colourful flume rides and racicing lanes that are ideal for big and little kids alike.

The beachfront hotel also has other features like two outdoor pools and an indoor pool.

There’s a huge host of daytime activities on offer, including canoeing, archery, tag rugby and volleyball.

Other options for some daytime fun include darts tournaments, cooking classes and giant lawn games.

The 4T+ TUI Blue Manar is already accepting guests, with a range of breaks on offer for Brit holidaymakers.

The 4T TUI BLUE Palm Beach Hammamet is the second TUI Blue hotel that’s recently opened in Tunisia.

Located next to a “coffee-coloured” beach in the seaside town of Hammamet, the stylish hotel has three pools.

The two outdoor pools are lined with sunloungers and palm trees, while the indoor pool is open from 9am until 7pm.

Just like the other TUI Blue hotels, there’s a full range of daytime activities on offer like table tennis, darts,French boules, aqua discos and cookery classes.

Located in Izmir, Turkey, the 4T TUI BLUE Angora Beach is an adults-only hotel.

It has all the trimmings of a TUI Blue hotel, including world-class fitness classes, yoga classes, three pools and a buffet restaurant.

The Sun was the first to try out TUI’s new Senegal holidays when they launched in 2022 – here’s our verdict.

And earlier this year, TUI launched new safari-beach holidays in Kenya – here’s what we though.

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The quaint seaside town of Lowestoft in Suffolk holds an interesting claim to fame – it’s the first place in the UK to see sunrise each morning.

The beach town is home to Ness Point, the UK’s most easterly point.

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Overlooking the sea, Ness Point is marked by a large metal plate on the ground.

Deck chairs are often spotted along the promenade, with visitors travelling throughout the night during the summer solstice to watch the sunrise.

Holidaymakers heading to Lowestoft to watch the sunrise should park their car on Wilde Street before walking towards the sea.

The sun currently rises in Lowestoft just after 6.50am, and with days getting shorter, even late risers will be able to watch the sunrise before the rest of the country.

Lowestoft is also set to benefit from a major makeover, with work to transform a seafront development set to start later this month.

The £4.9million beachside project is set to include a two-storey restaurant and cafe area.

Jubilee Parade will also include three new leisure concession units, public toilets and changing facilities.

A new lift will also be installed to improve access to the seafront for beach-goers with mobility issues and pushchairs.

Construction work is expected to start later this month, with the project set to be complete next summer.

Ambitious plans to transform Lowestoft town centre were also announced earlier this year.

The Battery Green car park, and surrounding land on Marina Road, will be transformed into a new cultural quarter.

Dubbed the Cultural Quarter Project, Lowestoft town centre will see three landmark buildings being developed on the site.

One of those buildings will become a community hub for residents featuring a cafe, studio spaces, plant areas, a restaurant and a first floor multi use space.

A new restaurant, which will cater for up to 80 people, will also be built, with space for pop-up bars and leisure areas also being earmarked as part of the project.

Until either of these projects open, there are plenty of things to do in Lowestoft, including a visit to East Point Pavilion.

The redesigned stunning Victorian-style glass pavilion overlooking the sea hosts film screenings, markets and yoga sessions.

Pakefield Riding School operate horse riding sessions along the beach, with lessons geared to enthusiasts and beginners alike.

Lowestoft is home to plenty of other attractions like The Scores, a series of narrow lanes that were created over the years by people forming paths in the cliff.

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Walking tours operate along The Scores, taking several hours.

There’s also Lowestoft Maritime Museum, East Anglia Transport Museum and Lowestoft Museum.

Other attractions include Lowestoft Lighthouse, which is open to the public on select heritage days throughout the year.

The seaside town is also home to its own theme park, Pleasurewood Hills Family Theme Park.

Pleasurewood Hills Family Theme Park is home to over 30 rides, including Cannonball Express, Wipe Out and Kiteflyer.

There are also several beaches in Lowestoft, including Lowestoft South Beach that’s known for its golden sand.

Lowestoft North Beach is a little quieter because of the mixture of shingle and sand on the beach.

Nearby beaches also include Pakefield Beach and Gunton Denes Beach.

Lowestoft is a two-hour drive from Cambridge, and it’s an 80-minute drive from Ipswich.

Want to explore some other seaside towns? The Sun’s travel experts have revealed their favourite locations across the UK.

And this seaside town has been named the best in the UK for the fourth year in a row.

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A HOTEL that looks like Noah’s Ark, recognised as the first full-scale replica, is one of Hong Kong’s most quirky and unusual places to stay.

Noah’s Ark Hotel and Resort can be found on the island of Ma Wan, next to the world-famous Tsing Ma Bridge.

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The hotel appears as a vessel washed up on shore, extending onto the golden sands and shimmering waters of Tung Wan Beach.

Inside, guests can expect a choice of spacious deluxe double, twin or themed family rooms with amenities such as a separate shower and bathroom and queen size beds.

There are seven themed rooms, one of which is British themed – expect a union jack bedspread and rug, a model of a Royal Mail letterbox, and a room full of cuddly teddy bears.

Other themes include ‘Mushroom Forest’, with mushroom toys and a toadstool tent.

Its two newest themed rooms are ‘Interstellar Voyage’, with rockets, planets and astronauts, and ‘Flying Adventure’, with planes and suitcases.

During their stay, guests can marvel at the resort’s Ark Expo and 4D theatre, where they can experience the flood of the ancient ark firsthand and discover the largest meteorite display in Hong Kong. 

They’ll also be surrounded by the thrill of the resort’s theme park, as well as panoramic views of the Tsing Ma Bridge from the zip line, and Adventureland Park.

There are three dining options at the hotel – the Harvest Restaurant, Harvest Beachside, and Noah’s Kitchen.

Harvest Restaurant offers international cuisine alongside views of Park Island Beach, Tsing Ma Bridge and Ting Kau Bridge.

Harvest Beachside is a new alfresco seaside restaurant equipped with leisurely style tables and seats.

And Noah’s Kitchen is an elegant, semi-open restaurant where guests can admire a vertical garden nature wall while they dine.

Ma Wan, despite being an island, is easy to get to. The best way to get there is to take the ferry from Central Pier or take the circular bus from Tseun Wan Bus Terminus.

Other things to do in Ma Wan include chilling out at Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach, located between the Park Island ferry pier and Noah’s Ark theme park.

There are also lots of family-friendly walking and hiking trails around, including the old fishing village on the water.

At the southern end of the island is the 69-meter-tall Tai Leng Tau Hill.

If you make it to the end of the 20-min hike, you can find one of the best viewpoints of Tang Lung Chau Island, Ma Wan Channel, and Tsing Ma Bridge.

Noah’s Ark & Hotel Resort is also a 12 minute drive to Hong Kong Disney Land Resort.

Deluxe double bed rooms at Noah’s Ark start from £74 per night based on two adults sharing, including breakfast.

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The best hotels in the world were recently revealed, and a Hong Kong hotel was named one of them.

The Peninsula, which came in fourth on The Telegraph’s list, is the oldest hotel in Hong Kong having opened in 1928.

LOOKING for your next big family holiday? This floating theme park might float your boat!

The eye-catching Norwegian Bliss cruise ship has an incredible two level race track on deck.

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Adrenaline junkie kids can go head to head on one of the longest race tracks at sea.

If you’re not eager to hit top speed, there are four settings for motorists – beginner, intermediate and advanced as well as a “turbo boost” option for those who have the need for speed.

The cars have four speed settings, for beginner, intermediate and advanced drivers that go up to 30 miles per hour, with a “turbo boost” on each lap for thrill seekers.

The track runs almost 1,000ft across two decks.

Competitors can nab a bargain Unlimited Weekly pass, which gives you unlimited rides, and you won’t have to wait endlessly in pesky queues.

If that doesn’t sate your need for speed, whizz down the Ocean Loops waterslide, which features two loops and hangs over the SIDE of the ship.

There is more racing on offer, too.

Challenge friends on the Aqua River waterslide, in an inner tube, or get your thrills on Ocean Loops which drops you two storeys into a double-loop flume.

If that still doesn’t tickle your fancy,  a game of outdoor laser tag located in a make-believe abandoned space station might do just day.

Players can seek out their rivals during the day, but it is much more exciting when dusk sets.

For parents and Beatles fans who want to unwind, a tribute band plays all the hits from the Cavern Club in the evenings.

During the day, feel free to lounge by the pool without fear of being disturbed as the go karts lapping nearby run silently.

For the height of luxury, check out The Haven — an exclusive area of the ship with posh suites, butlers and a two-bedroom family villa that even has a bath with sea view.

Splash out on a Haven suite and you can take a dip in a private pool, drink in a private bar and eat in a private restaurant.

Not that finding somewhere to refuel is ever a problem on Bliss. It has 14 watering holes and 27 places to eat, including a casual self-service, posh French bistro and Ocean Blue for seafood.

The Norwegian Bliss will cruises to Alaska from Seattle, and seasonally she’ll offer cruises to Bahamas and Florida, The Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Pacific Coastal, and Panama Canal.

The cruise ship can accommodate just over 4,000 passengers.

She is also the first ocean liner with a huge glass-fronted observation lounge, which has been added because Bliss is cruising in Alaska and somewhere to sit and watch for passing whales is a must.

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A SEASIDE town in Cumbria that’s won multiple awards is a well-kept holiday secret among travellers in the know, thanks to its unspoiled surroundings and spectacular sunsets.

Silloth in Allerdale, Cumbria, has been known since Victorian times for the quality of its air, the abundance of rare wildlife and its spectacular sunsets. And not much has changed since then.

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It has several beaches, two of the most famous ones being West Beach and Grune Point.

West Beach is a large, sandy beach with dunes and views of the Solway Firth and the Scottish landscape, including the hills of Southern Galloway and the Lake District Fells.

Grune Point is a long, sandy shingle beach that sticks out into the Moricambe estuary and is a great spot for bird watching.

The beaches are some of the best places to watch Silloth’s famous sunsets, which are considered so good because of the town’s location and views.

If you don’t make it to the beach, another popular spot to catch one is Silloth Promenade – a traffic-free walkway which also has views of Solway Firth and Scotland.

The town’s Green is one of the largest and longest greens in the country, dating back to the 1860s.

 It’s located in the Silloth conservation area and close to the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site, and has been awarded the Green Flag Award several years in a row for its high environmental standards, excellent visitor facilities, and beautiful maintenance.

It’s now recognised as one of the best parks in the country.

Among the things to do there is a water play area, which is a big hit during the summer months with children of all ages.

Silloth has won several awards over the years, including the Coastal Resort Trophy and Best Sustainable Development Town in 2016.

The town has also played host to lots of big events. For 21 years it held a music and beer festival, with Allerdale beers and local acts.

But the organises announced this year they’d made the “difficult decision” for it to come to an end.

The Silloth Vintage Rally however, still takes place across two days every year.

It’s a free, family-friendly event that takes place on Silloth Green, showcasing hundreds of vintage vehicles, including steam engines, stationary engines, commercial and military vehicles, classic cars, vintage tractors, and classic motorbikes.

If you can’t wait for the rally to come around, Silloth has its very own Motorcycle Museum.

The museum displays a range of production and Grand Prix bikes that have been raced by Jim Snaith at iconic circuits including the Isle of Man TT and Daytona. 

The museum is run by Snaith, and he shares his first-hand knowledge with visitors. 

Entry is free and donations are welcome.

Silloth’s location is also ideal for exploring the Lake District.

Drive around 45 minutes south east and you’ll find yourself in Keswick.

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The UK’s best seaside town was revealed in July this year by Which?

Banburgh in Northumberland topped the list, making it four years in a row that the north east town has claimed the title.