FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We are aware of recent social media posts and speculative comments circulating regarding the water quality at our facility and the potential impact on public health.

We take these concerns extremely seriously, we work closely with the relevant authorities, including Thames Water, the Environment Agency, the UK Health Security Agency and the relevant local authority Environmental Health team. We do this to ensure that regular water testing is established and that the safety of our customers using the bathing waters is maintained. In this particular instance, we received a complaint alleging that an illness may have been associated with use of the lake. The group also advised us that they had hired a BBQ onsite as part of their visit. We gathered the appropriate information and water test results so that we could provide factual and accurate information with regards to this incident.

Following the results and information available to us from the relevant authorities, we can confirm that our facility remains safe for bathing and that our water quality is within normal parameters for everyday use.

Our water has been tested for the relevant parameters associated with waterborne illness and we have received confirmation from the Environment Agency that there is no identified bathing-water quality concern. We have continued to work closely with the relevant agencies throughout this matter to confirm that our water is, and remains, safe for bathing.

The allegation circulated on social media specifically referred to Campylobacter, a bacterium commonly associated with foodborne infection. We would like to make clear that there is no indication that any such infection was associated with food or drink sold at our venue. There is also no established evidence of a direct link between our bathing water and the illnesses being referenced online.

We would urge customers and members of the public not to rely on unverified information, allegations or speculation posted online. We are aware of the potential impact that inaccurate and unsupported claims can have not only on our business, but also on neighbouring businesses and organisations that use the same lake water.

We also wish to make clear that the publication or circulation of unfounded allegations about a business, particularly where they may cause reputational or financial harm, may constitute defamation. We are therefore taking appropriate steps in relation to statements that are inaccurate or unsupported.

We will continue to follow our normal, established water-quality monitoring procedures. We conduct water-quality testing weekly, with samples sent to a professional laboratory for analysis. In addition, during peak season, the Environment Agency carries out its own testing twice a month, with testing taking place once a month during the off-season.

The safety and wellbeing of our customers remain our highest priority. We will continue to monitor water quality closely, work with the relevant authorities and provide further information should there be any material change to the current situation.

Thank you for your understanding and continued trust.

• Do I have to book admission to enter?

You must have purchased an admission ticket for entry to the Park – we strongly recommend to book online in advance of your visit date to avoid disappointment.

You must have an admission ticket alongside any activity you have purchased.

BBQ Hire includes x 2 car admission tickets – you can purchase more admission tickets for your group.

Admission prices are dependant upon the season, they can be checked on our park admission page

https://www.cotswoldcountryparkandbeach.com/things-to-do/park-admission/

• What is your cancellation policy? 

All tickets are non-refundable unless you have purchased TicketPlan Refund Protection – this option is available to add during the checkout.

Adding TicketPlan protection for £1.50 will protect you against unexpected illnesses or other specified unforeseen circumstances.

TicketPlan is non-refundable. TicketPlan Protection is an optional service offered by Cotswold Country Park & Beach and administered by TicketPlan on their behalf, it is not an insurance policy. By adding this to your order, you understand and agree to TicketPlan terms and conditions.

AST – Refund Promise – 102023 CLEAN.pdf

 We at Cotswold Country Park and Beach may need to postpone or cancel your tickets due to unforeseen circumstances or serious weather such as thunder and lightning or high winds. Please note, these decisions may be taken on the day in line with our safety procedures. A refund will be issued if we need to cancel your booking.

• Am I able to change my visit date after I’ve booked?

Yes, you can edit your booking after you have booked online – please login to your account via our website by clicking the Buy Tickets button and then the person symbol (you will have created this when you purchased your tickets.) We have a £2 reschedule fee that will charge you when changing your booking. You will then be emailed your new tickets for your visit.

• Your website says you are full, is there any chance of entering the park or paying on the gate?

Unfortunately, no. When the website shows that the park is fully booked, it means all available parking and admission slots have been allocated for that day. To keep the site safe and enjoyable for everyone, no additional entry or pay-on-the-gate tickets are available once capacity is reached. We recommend booking in advance for future dates, especially during weekends, school holidays and good-weather days!

• Can I park anywhere nearby?

We do not have any external parking outside of our Park, therefore if you are arriving on foot with a pedestrian admission ticket, we recommend to be dropped off and picked up.

• Do you have concessions or Blue Light Discount?

We do offer Blue Light Discount to those with a valid blue light card – please contact our Office team at info@cotswoldcountryparkandbeach.com with your card and we will provide you with a code. Please note, this can only be used to book park admission tickets online.

We do offer an AquaVenture discount for group bookings of 20+, please use code AQUA20 in the promotional box at the checkout. Please note, this code will only work with 20 or more AquaVenture tickets in your basket.

• Do you have a Season Pass? 

We offer an Admission Season Pass for £120

This is valid for one year from purchase – please note, the Park is closed during winter months

Please visit the Season Pass tab on our menu bar for full information

• Do you have any information about Lake quality or algae?

Our Lake quality is tested by the Environmental Agency twice monthly with our current rating as EXCELLENT. Please follow this link to view our profile on the EH website – Bathing water profile

We also conduct our own water testing with an external company once a week.

• Are dogs allowed?

Dogs are very welcome, they must be kept on a lead at all times and are not allowed on the beach or in the water.

They are allowed on our boats within reason and in our Café.

During hot weather, please do not leave animals in your vehicle.

• Do you do self-launch of SUPs, kayaks and boats?

No, you cannot launch your own craft from our site, this includes all SUPs, kayaks and boats.

• Can I bring a disposable BBQ?

Unfortunately disposable BBQ’s, fires and gas burners are prohibited on site. We have BBQ areas that can be rented out for the day. Failure to follow the rules onsite may lead to you being asked to leave.

• Are your toilets open?

Our toilets are open during business hours. We have two toilet blocks located at each end of the Park, with a disabled toilet located at the Main Entrance.

• Are you a protected site?

Areas within the Cotswold Water Park are Special Areas of Conservation and our site in particular is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. We therefore ask you to be respectful of all the local flora and fauna. We ask guests to dispose of waste properly, no matter how small to protect our wildlife. Thank you.

• Can I smoke onsite?

No, we are a non-smoking site and smoking is not permitted anywhere onsite.

• Is admission to Cotswold Country Park & Beach included in the AquaVenture ticket?

AquaVenture tickets do not include admission. You must have purchased an admission ticket as well as AquaVenture tickets. Please book your admission ticket at the same time as your AquaVenture in advance to avoid any disappointment on the day. Should we be fully booked, you will not be allowed entry to use your AquaVenture tickets.

• Do adults have to go on with children on AquaVenture?

For children aged 6—10 years, an adult must accompany them on AquaVenture. The ratio of an adult accompanying children is more than 1adult:3children. For ages between 11 and 15, an adult must complete the disclaimer on behalf of the child but does not have to go on AquaVenture with them – the adult must be 18+ to give consent and must be on site during the session.

• Do I have to be able to swim to participate on AquaVenture?

Yes – you must be able to swim 50m unaided with a buoyancy aid on and be confident in the water. Young children must swim on their own. Please note, you have to swim out to the AquaVenture to gain access and swim back to land at the end of your session.

• Do I have to be physically fit to take part on AquaVenture?

You do have to be able to pull yourself up out of the water and it can be tiring. You don’t have to be very fit to take part, however it is a very active sport that requires some level of fitness.

• How long prior to the AquaVenture session should I arrive?

Please check-in for your session at the AquaVenture check-in shed 30 minutes before your session start time. This allows time for you to check-in, purchase a wetsuit if you require one, change and receive your buoyancy aid and safety briefing before heading into the water.

• What happens if I have booked AquaVenture and I’m stuck in traffic?

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee to get you onto your AquaVenture session should you be late. We will try our best to accommodate you and may be able to move you to a later session where possible. Please call us if you think you will be late for your session and our Office team may be able to change your session.

Please refer to the Tickets/Admission section for information regarding Refunds.

• What happens if it’s raining or there is a storm when I’m due to go on the AquaVenture?

Our session will run in wet weather and will only be stopped / cancelled if there is thunder and lightning within 5 miles of the site. Please note, this decision will be taken on the day in line with our safety procedures and will be a temporary measure until the thunder and lightning has passed. We will aim to get you back in the water as soon as we safely can.

Please refer to the Tickets/Admission section for information regarding Refunds.

• Do I have to wear a wetsuit?

If the water temp is below 15 degrees centigrade, wetsuits will be mandatory. If you have your own wetsuit you are welcome to bring it to wear, otherwise we have them available to hire on arrival subject to availability at £6.00 per wetsuit.

• Can I wear shoes on AquaVenture?

No – trainers or hard soled shoes are not allowed such as rock pooling shoes or surfing boots – barefoot is standard.
Aqua socks are permitted and are available to purchase on the day if necessary.

• Where can I change for my session store and is their somewhere to store my possessions / valuables?

We have basic changing rooms at the AquaVenture, split into male and female. Please note, there are no toilets located at the AquaVenture and we do not currently have showers onsite.

We have small keyed lockers for valuables such as keys, wallets, phones. Please ask a member of the Lifeguard team to store this and they will arrange that for you. We do advise not to bring any valuables to AquaVenture if possible and either leave them with someone that has come with you or locked in your car.

• Can I participate on AquaVenture if I am pregnant?

We strongly advise not to participate if you are pregnant.

• Do I need to remove all jewellery and can I wear glasses on AquaVenture?

All jewellery must be removed before you enter the water including all removable ear-rings.

It is strongly advised not to wear your glasses on the AquaVenture, prescription goggles are a good alternative. If you have to wear your glasses, this is done entirely at your own risk, as there is a high chance of losing or damaging them. Swimming goggles are permitted.

• Can I take a waterproof camera onto AquaVenture?

We do not allow the use of this type of equipment as it could damage the inflatables.

• Can I leave AquaVenture before the hour is up?

Yes, you can leave before the hour is up, however you cannot return to AquaVenture once you have left the area.

As stated on our waiver – You as the participant/ booker / accompanying adult acknowledge that if anyone does not follow the instructions given to them may suffer loss, damage or injury as a result. You will not hold the company or its employees and agents liable in this event. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the company or its employees will be liable for any direct or indirect loss, damage or injury arising in any form due to disobeying or disregarding instructions.

We reserve the right to remove you from a session or refuse entry to a session if we deem your behaviour as aggressive, unsafe, disruptive or antisocial without issuing a refund. 

If participants have been drinking or our Staff view you as intoxicated, we reserve the right to refuse entry to your session without a refund. 

• Where can I swim?

Please only swim from approved areas from the beach to the buoy line, as these are where our Lifeguards are overseeing. Please do not swim at any entry point around South or North Lake.

• Can I bring inflatables on the beach?

It is the lifeguards decision if the inflatables are appropriate, as inflatables can obscure their view. We ask that you only bring small inflatables, for example a single lilo or small animal inflatables. We do not allow inflatable boats.

• • Do you have any information about Lake quality or algae?

  Our Lake quality is tested by the Environmental Agency twice monthly with our current rating as EXCELLENT. Please follow this link to view our profile on the EH website – Bathing water profile

  We also conduct our own water testing with an external company once a week.

Please note, we are not an open water swimming site and swimming is restricted to the swimming area at the beach

We reserve the right to remove you from a session or refuse entry to the water if we deem your behaviour as aggressive, unsafe, disruptive or antisocial without issuing a refund. 

If participants have been drinking or our Staff view you as intoxicated, we reserve the right to refuse entry to the water without a refund

• When I am on site, where can I purchase activities?

We have a live online booking system which means you can book all activities on our website on the day! To add to your booking, please click the Buy Tickets button and then the person symbol to log back into your account. You can then add activities to your booking as well as change your visit date.

• What are the age restrictions on activities?

Stand Up Paddleboards and single kayaks, participants must be aged 11 or older. Double kayaks, children ages 6-11 are allowed to participate with an adult onboard or must be 11 or older to participate without an adult.

Swan Pedalo boats, Mini Electric boats and Row boats, we ask that children are 11 years old and over if participating on their own. If accompanied by an adult, any aged child may go onboard.

• Do we have to rent buoyancy aides?

Buoyancy aides are provided for all water activities and are included in your ticket. We have buoyancy aids for all sizes, including babies and young children.

• How many people fit in your boats, kayaks and SUPs?

Swan Pedalo boats, Mini Electric boats and Row boats all seat 4 adults. Babies and toddlers can sit on laps.

Stand Up Paddleboards and single kayaks are all 1 person. Double kayaks are for 2 people.

• Do you do self-launch of SUPs, kayaks and boats?

No, you cannot launch your own craft from our site, this includes all SUPs, kayaks and boats.

We reserve the right to remove you from a session or refuse entry to a session if we deem your behaviour as aggressive, unsafe, disruptive or antisocial without issuing a refund. 

If participants have been drinking or our Staff view you as intoxicated, we reserve the right to refuse entry to your session without a refund

• Do you serve food?

We serve hot & cold food and drink from our Beach Shack, Café, and Ice Cream Hut. Please note, selected eateries will be open at certain times of the year.

• Can I bring my own food and drink to the park?

You can bring your own food and drink for a picnic in the Park. We only ask that you do not bring glass bottles or containers and please ensure all rubbish is disposed of in the bins provided.

• Can I bring a disposable BBQ?

Unfortunately disposable BBQ’s, fires and gas burners are prohibited on site. We have BBQ areas that can be rented out for the day. Failure to follow the rules onsite may lead to you being asked to leave.

(No alcohol may be consumed prior to Watersport Activities)

• Can I camp at Cotswold Country Park and Beach?

We do not have camping facilities on site and are a day attraction only. Our closest campsite is Cotswold Lakes Camping located only a 2 minute drive or a 20 minute walk from us. Please find them here – Cotswold Lakes Camping at Field Farm

• What local accommodation is nearby?

A great option is the De Vere Cotswold Water Park De Vere Cotswold Water Park Hotel & Apartments | Picturesque Hotel – only 5-10 minute drive from us, this is a stunning venue overlooking a lake in the heart of the Cotswold Lakes.

We are also a short drive away from Hoburne Cotswold Holiday Park Hoburne Cotswold | Holiday Park in Gloucestershire

We would also recommend Stay Cotswold Holiday Cottages – a fantastic option for local cottages and properties around the Cotswolds. Please find them here – Holiday Cottages in the Cotswolds | StayCotswold

Another fantastic option is Orion Holidays which offers over 60 stylish lakeside cottages across nine beautiful locations in the Cotswold Lakes. Enjoy on-site facilities including watersports, hot tubs and spa access, with many pet-friendly options and easy access to local pubs, restaurants and activities.

• Want to book a school visit?

We would love to host your group! If you are interested in booking any activities, please contact our office team at bookings@cotswoldcountryparkandbeach.com and they will provide you with all information, costings and timings. We can build a visit especially for you.

ALL SCHOOL GROUPS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SWIM AT THE BEACH REQUIRE PRIVATE LIFEGUARD HIRE 

If you are only booking admission/entry to the Park and will not be participating in any activities or swimming at the beach, admission can be booked via our website for cars / MPV / minibuses. If you require coach parking – these MUST be booked in with our office team listed above.