Lagoona Park — Attraction in Shinfield

“Fantastic inflatable fun on the lake!”

We had a fabulous time at the new Aquapark at Pingewood yesterday! Two 14 yr old boys (harsh critics) loved every minute of the 50 mins allowed for £15 and they were completely worn out after just one session! Admittedly, it was pleasant weather on a Monday at 2pm so we took our pick of lake-side tables to sit and watch. It turned out to be an excellent birthday treat! You can slide; swing; swim; crawl; balance or climb all over Europe’s largest, outdoor, inflatable, obstacle-course-on-water.

We were able to park in the smaller car park at the lakeside, by the Reception & small kiosk although there was also a large over-flow carpark virtually next door (which may charge £3 per car according to a sign there). Two further picnic tables are near there with lovely lake views.

Useful things to know (Aug 2017):

Adults and children need close fitting trunks/costumes under wet-suits (£5 each per session to hire)

Children under 16 were given soft rugby-style head protection to wear. Very good!

Plan to arrive at least 45 minutes before your actual booking to give ample time to complete a necessary disclaimer form, to receive help to find suitable wet-suit etc. and to participate in live safety briefing before entering the cordoned off walkway. Small male/female toilets are nearby (at top of some stairs) but not ideal for mass private changing yet – perhaps expensive improvements like lockers would arrive with time & success. It wasn’t a problem – put bathers underneath and take a towel to change under, which you can leave by the lake.

Easy to find - Lagoona Aquapark, Pingewood Road South, Reading, Berkshire UK RG30 3UH. Directions on their website.

Staffing – New venture so they are a very busy, hardworking but small team. They were highly aware of people’s health and safety, approachable and helpful with all my questions. I was extremely happy with the resolution when I had booked the wrong number of wetsuits and the phone was answered quickly when I did have to make a quick call.

Booking – On-line booking recommended (no fee for debit card & easy to use separate booking system). I booked a week in advance but you may be able to just turn up. There was a link to complete the disclaimer online beforehand as well.

Jet-skis – Some large, sit-on jetskis were at the lakeside next to Aquapark. It looks like a lot of fun if you have the energy, but you would certainly need to book them in advance so that a special Instructor is present. Safety & respect is obviously important whilst riding these powerful machines. About £69 per bike for adult & 2 kids for half hour at time of writing.

Food - There are coin-machines at the kiosk for crisps/sweets and £2 glass of wine (for observers only) & ice-creams also available but coffee machine was temporarily out of order. Take a flask/picnic if you like!

Steps were clearly marked with black & yellow hazard trim but be mindful that quite a few steps about. May be difficult for a wheelchair users but I'm sure they would help you if they could.

Water-shoes - My son did get a small cut on his ankle on the inflatables so next time he might take ‘dive ankle booties’ which would stay on whilst swimming. Pair of basic wet-shoes were available to buy for £6 but we were fine with bare feet. Thank you for the kind First Aid.

Other notes • I could have taken binoculars to watch but it really isn’t that far away from the seating. • If it had been raining, you could sit upstairs (bar area in progress!) or there is a very small main reception area before. Otherwise, brolly; car or get wet. • A few feet of golden sand along part of the lakeshore and small segregated part of sand & lake for parents to use with toddlers.

We will definitely...

We had a nice day at Lagoona Park overall, but there were a few things worth noting for future visitors.

The lake itself looks clean and well-kept, with the blue dye in the water (used to help kill weeds etc.), which gave it a bright, inviting appearance. The mini beach area is a lovely touch — part of the lake is cordoned off to create a little beach that’s great for both kids and adults to paddle and relax.

The stone car park is a good size, but it does fill up quickly, so arrive early if you want a decent spot. Unfortunately, the site overall didn’t feel very disabled- or pushchair-friendly. There are a lot of steps, and I struggled quite a bit with my twin pushchair. The café is located up a flight of stairs, so I couldn’t access it with the buggy. That said, there is a nice snack shack that overlooks the lake, with picnic benches and sun umbrellas providing shade — which was a great spot to relax.

I only realized after leaving that there’s actually disabled parking right at the entrance to Lagoona Park and a wooden gate that leads directly to the picnic area by the lake. Had I known, I would’ve used that instead of struggling with the steps. It really could be signposted much more clearly.

As for the inflatable water park, we pre-ordered a wetsuit for my nephew, but the staff said the water was warm enough, so he went in with just his swim shorts. Unfortunately, we weren’t offered a refund for the unused wetsuit, so that felt like a bit of a waste (but that was more our fault). The life vest he wore rubbed on his chest and made it sore, so I’d recommend wearing a rash vest or swim shirt underneath. He also wore water shoes, but they weren’t really needed.

My nephew is 12½ and had a fantastic time on the inflatables — definitely the highlight! However, the male lifeguard doing the safety talk lacked any enthusiasm and delivered the rules in a dull, disinterested tone, which didn’t set a great tone to start with. At the end he gave the ten minute warning and immediately told them to head to the exit. Some girls were by the exit and missed out on ten minutes of fun.

All in all, Lagoona Park has a lovely setting and a good atmosphere. There’s definitely fun to be had, especially for older kids, but there are a few areas where improvements would make the experience smoother and more accessible...

Unsafe for Children – The Owner’s Attitude Is Alarming

We visited Lagoona Park in Reading for my son's birthday, expecting a fun and safe experience. Instead, we had a terrifying incident that could have ended quite badly. My son fell inside one of the water towers, evidently due to rips in the inflatable around the top — so fell inside a tall, dark, enclosed structure. He couldn’t touch the bottom and started to panic. Thank God I was right behind him to reassure him that I was there. After the incident, I raised my concerns with the owner — but he brushed them off and said he’d “check it later.” Maintenance issues like this make it hard to recommend the place at all, especially when children’s safety is at stake. While the nearby staff were helpful and attentive — and I’m grateful for that — the real problem is the owner. When I explained what had happened, he smiled in my face, shrugged, and said my son had “just had a bit more fun.” He showed no concern, no accountability, and no interest in improving safety. In fact, he became defensive and even aggressive, asking me what I was going to “do about it.” His attitude was truly shocking and made it painfully clear: this is not a place that takes child safety seriously. And that should be at the heart of everything they do. If you still decide to take your children there, do so at your own risk. Get in the water with them. Supervise them constantly. Because if something goes wrong, you won’t get support from the people who should care the most. This could be a great place — but with an owner like that, it...