The facts you need to know before you go.
It apparently cost a whopping £14 million to create Scarborough’s water park attraction, Alpamare, which was launched with great fanfare back in July 2016. We have since visited on two separate occasions, in January 2019 and more recently yesterday.
So is it worth a visit? Well our verdict and that of the two other families who accompanied us, is a resounding “Yes” and here are our five reasons to give it a try!
1. The huge water slides
If speed and adrenaline are your thing, you’ll love the state-of-the-art water slides and with four to choose from, everyone can pick a favourite. I say everyone but there are minimum height and age requirements on each slide and under 6s cannot ride any of them (they do, however, get free entry to the park).
On the Cresta Run riders travel the twists and turns individually on a mat, lying on their stomach, head-first. It is based on the Cresta Run in St.Moritz – a famous ice toboggan track. When I asked my boy’s opinion he thought it was great, “fast but fun” he said.
You ride the Olympic Run with a partner on a double inflatable tube and it is breathtakingly swift, as I found out when my daughter eventually persuaded me to ride it with her and I screamed all the way to the bottom.
Thrill seekers will love the Black Run which is a traditional solo water slide that is simple but exciting; it is steep, fast and in the dark.
The fast and furious Snow Storm is for four riders, sitting on an inflatable tube and involves a stomach churning drop into swirling chambers. Too much for the feint hearted like me.
Do you dare to ride all four? I didn’t, but the daredevil older kids did and absolutely loved all the slides.
2. Tropical temperatures
During midwinter, particularly with the weather having turned decidedly chilly this weekend, you may think a day at a water park doesn’t sound like the best idea. However Alpamare is actually the perfect winter day out, transporting you to more tropical climes. The two outdoor pools are kept at 35 degrees, comfortably warm even on the very cold and clear January day we visited. It’s a lovely experience to unwind in the steaming waters whilst outside remains crisp and cold.
Inside areas are also kept warm so you are not shivering, although to be honest it is still a bit too chilly to make full use of the loungers if you fancy some time out of the water, unless you have a robe.
3. Loads to do
This visit we spent about five hours inside Alpamare so it makes a great family day out – for all ages. Our group included 10 kids ranging from 3 to 13 years old and all were kept fully entertained. As well as the slides (which the older kids wanted to go on again and again) there is a fairly large pool which includes waves every 30 minutes. It shelves gradually so there are plenty of shallows for smaller kids to enjoy, plus an interactive splash and play area with a small slide, sprays and fountains and a giant bucket which slowly fills with water until it periodically tips a deluge over those below (there is a bell to warn you about this).
If you fancy a bit of time out and relaxation, you can head outdoors to the heated garden pool, or the infinity pool which is filled with healing iodine water and has nice views across the grounds and Scarborough bay. Both have whirlpools, bubble jets and recliners to relax in. You can also buy drinks, including alcohol and slushies, to drink in the garden pool.
There is also a newly opened Alpine-style wellness centre and spa, booked separately, with a choice of steam and sauna baths, bubble jet pools, views and a wide range of treatments.
4. Good facilities
The pool and slide areas were very clean, well maintained and strictly patrolled by a host of visible lifeguards. They are very clear about safety and what is and is not allowed (we were told no snorkels, for example). All the slides and pools were fully functioning and available during our visit.
The toilets and communal changing facilities were spacious and clean and the showers were nice and hot to round off the day. On the downside quite a few of the showers weren’t working during our visit.
There is an on-site café and you are given a wristband which keeps track of your purchases so that you don’t have to carry cash while enjoying the park. To be honest the food is expensive and not great quality. The pizzas are at least freshly cooked to order, but at around £9 each are overpriced. Other food is kept warm under lights which means soggy, barely warm chips, suspect looking sausages and dry chicken nuggets. There were also jacket potatoes and a sweet potato curry and beef chilli on the menu during our visit but again didn’t look very inspiring after a few hours drying out under the heat.
You cannot take any of your own food into the park and for us this is a definite negative as it really bumps up the cost of the day.
5. Happy kids
The most important factor is whether the kids enjoyed their time at Alpamare and we definitely left with a troupe of very happy, but tired, kids. It really does get a big thumbs up from them every time. The older, more confident swimmers, in particular, relish the independence of having a free reign to explore the park and do as they please. It is not so big that you need to worry about where they are and, during quieter times at least, it is easy to keep track of them. The younger kids love the warm water and splashing around.
It is quite rare to find somewhere that can keep such a wide range of ages entertained.
Let’s be honest if the kids are happy the parents are happy too, so everyone is a winner at Alpamere.
Worth knowing
The Minimum heights and ages for children on the slides is as follows:
| Cresta Run | 1.1m and age 6+ |
| Olympic Run | 1.2m and age 6+ |
| Black Run | 1.2m and age 8+ |
| Snowstorm | 1.2m and age 8+ |
They are pretty strict about these requirements, but I guess if you are happy with the moral implications of allowing your offspring to tell a fib about their age, if questioned, then you can get away with it. The two 5 year olds with us, including my son who is tall for his age, rode the Cresta Run several times quite happily.
It is certainly worth knowing that when it’s your birthday you can get free entry to the park; you need three paying friends and a piece of ID showing your date of birth to claim your free admission. The offer is valid 7 days before your birthday and up to 7 days after. Not available in combination with other offers or discounts.
The costs
Entry to Alpamare it is £21 per adult (16+), £17 per child (6-15) or £66 for a family of two adults and two children. Under 6s go free.
This entitles you to 4 hours in the park from the time you enter to the time you check out with reception. Any additional time you stay over your allocated 4 hours is charged extra at £1 per person per 30 minutes. Spending £5 in the restaurant credits your wristband with an additional 30 minutes.
Again they are very strict on charging for extra time and we were charged for 90 minutes extra, even though we were actually only just over 60 minutes after our time (due to having to wait for the showers). It is something to be aware of and I advise leaving the pool in plenty of time to change and exit within your time limits, or costs can add up. On our first visit in 2019 we had paid standard entry and been allowed to stay in the whole day, but this visit we were told an all day stay wasn’t possible without extra charges.
There is space for 300 cars in the Pay & Display car park. We have visited twice – during January on both occasions – and parking has been free, with the pay and display machines being covered up. Again it would add to costs if you were paying a daily carpark rate in addition to admission.
How it works
On arrival you are given a wristband to wear. This records when you arrive at the park and when you leave. It’s also used to open and lock your locker and make cash-less payments in the restaurant. You then settle your account in reception before leaving. It is a good system, the wristbands are easy to use and and work well. You may, however, need to establish ground rules if you allow the kids to use their bands to purchase items from the restaurant.
Final comments
Off season is a great time to visit, it was really quiet both times we have visited and if you can get a clear, cold day the outdoor pools are lovely at this time of year. If you have a birthday, even better! I am not sure I would visit in summer or during busy school holidays, as I suspect the crowds make it a different experience altogether. But overall it makes for a great family day out.
Alpamare UK, 28 Burniston Rd, Scarborough YO12 6PH, United Kingdom
For more information visit www.alpamare.co.uk
