Big Dip Post Reply

[Claire M]

Hi,

Has anyone been yet? Is it any good / do you have any tips please?

Thanks, Claire

[MrsAmanda]

The pool wall burst almost the minute they opened so had to close it again! I've no idea if its reopned yet.

[MrsAmanda]

Pool has reopened. If weather stays nice this week, might take the children, see what's what.

[Groucho]

Yes it's reopened and is great for kids. I recommend you buy tickets and pool time before going though!

[Claire M]

Hi,

We went today - here's what we thought.

We had booked online for the 12 to 3-30 slot. We got there at 12 and had to go to the pool area to register for a half hour pool slot. Think this half hour restriction is just when they are busy. You then go through to the very small changing room - changing eats into your half hour slot so best to be in costumes already if poss.

The pool itself is actually 2 pools with a wall in between - both the same depth. My 7 year old could stand on tip toes. There are lots of toys / inflatables and the atmosphere is quite nice with music etc.

There are a few activities apart from the pool - bungee jumping/ trampoline type thing, hamster balls , big bouncy slide BUT you need a token for a turn on each of these (approx 5 mins I would say) and they are expensive - we paid £14 for 4!! The big sand enclosure thing is free.

All in all I thought it was ok but would be much better off peak when (I think) you could have unlimited swim time.

Claire

[supergirl]

Went there today.
I think it is a rip off. children go in free but you end up paying the tokens as the previous mum said turned out expensive (£10 for 3).
Besides the big pool there are no activities for children under 3(oh yes, a tiny bouncy castle) - I ended up lying and said my daughter was 3 and half so she could do the big slide (which she mastered very well)...
We had a great time because we were a nice group of people and my daughter had the chance to bond with her god father and at this age a few slides run and an ice cream are always a winner
I think if they want to do it next year, they have to make better value for money...

[northsidemum]

We also went yesterday and had a lovely time. Considering it is only 3 pounds per adult & children under 12 go free, I think it is a bargain- cheaper than the Latchmere for a much more enjoyable/ unique experience. There are lots of free things to do if you don't want to pay for the rides- there are numerous swingballs, big Jengas, paddling pools and other games, as well as the enormous sandpit with buckets & spades provided. We will definitely be going back.

[Honeybee]

Don't bother going with any kids under 3 though! We went with a 10 month old and an 18 month old. We arrived at 12.30 but by then the only slots for the pool were from 3 onwards. So in the meantime the only thing available for little ones to do was play in the sandpit, where there were older children (8/9/10/11 year olds) playing volleyball which was actually quite dangerous for the little ones. The gravel there means you can't push a buggy along it and there are no highchairs available for babies. We left after an hour - total waste of time!

[Wfm]

Awful awful awful!
We had an awful experience and would not go near it again.
Probably ok for older children, but my daughter fell on the edge of the sandpit and ended up in A&E (because where she fell there was not enough sand, just the wooden frame).
Not suitable for toddlers in any way. And the food is gross and the set up cheap and nasty.

[frenchlyric]

We went with two not-quite-18-month-year-olds and it was a great success . It was during the week so it was quiet, but the children thoroughly enjoyed the 'beach', the paddling pools, the swimming pool complete with balls and floats and an ice cream.
Pebbles and prams are a menace mind

[Bonita_D]

I took my five year old daughter and her friend to the Big Dip on Clapham Common for the first time yesterday. We all had a great time, until my daughter said that she needed to use the toilet. All three of us went to the Ladies toilet behind the changing room. My daughter used the toilet first, then her friend said that he wanted to go. I went back in when he said he needed help, my daughter said that she would wait outside. As I was coming out of the toilet, I was absolutely horrified to see my daughter tumble down the side of the railing. The toilet is situated at the top of a big ramp, and there was what looked like a concrete block holding up a screen on which she bumped her head. I was very shaken and upset and told a member of staff what had happened - the organisers of an attraction aimed at families would surely be interested in any health and safety issues. The member of staff - and I was too shaken to note his name - was not particularly interested or helpful and his response was "But when I walked by I saw your daughter leaning on the railing". Had I seen a small child leaning on a railing next to a sheer drop, I would have told the child that it was not safe. Blaming my daughter for what had happened was just not what I would have expected. All I was asking for is that someone look into the set up outside the ladies toilet as I wouldn't want any other parent or carer to experience what my daughter and I experienced yesterday.

[ckid]

We took our children - aged 9 and 7 a week or two ago. I had read some negative reviews on this site and had almost been put off going. However, my children had seen it as we'd walked past and I thought the idea of being able to swim in a heated pool outside was too lovely to miss. We had a great time. We paid £6 for my husband and I to get in and I bought 6 tokens for rides, costing £18. I had expected to be in and out within a couple of hours. It was so quiet that we got had an hour and a half in the pool (we chose to get out, weren't asked to). The children then had 3 rides each, which all lasted about 10 mins and we played for about an hour in the sand and with volleyball and Connect 4. We though it was brilliant.