SAT–SUN · 9am–6pm
Cotswold Country Park & Beach
0–23–45–78–1112+
— minadd postcode
📍 south cerney
Cotswold Country Park & Beach
Lakeside country park near Cirencester with an inland beach, paddling, play and watersports.
✦ We visited
On a hot day this is the closest thing to the seaside locally, get there early for parking and a patch of sand. Bring everything you would take to the beach.
Cotswold Country Park and Beach sits within the Cotswold Water Park near South Cerney, a network of lakes created from old gravel pits. The headline for families is the inland beach, with sand, a shallow paddling and swimming area and lakeside lawns, which on a hot day feels like a proper seaside trip without the long drive to the coast. There are lifeguards in the main season.
Beyond the beach there are play areas, walking and cycling trails around the lakes, a splash zone, and watersports such as paddleboarding, kayaking and pedalos that are charged separately. It can get busy on summer weekends, so arriving early helps with both parking and a good spot on the sand. The wider Water Park has miles of flat, buggy and bike-friendly paths.
It suits all ages, with toddlers enjoying the sand and shallow water and older children the watersports and trails. Pack as you would for the beach in summer.
Good for: outdoors, water, sporty, sensory. Ages: 0–2, 3–4, 5–7, 8–11, 12+.
Good to know
Is there a beach at Cotswold Country Park?
Yes, there is an inland sandy beach with a shallow paddling and swimming area, with lifeguards in the main season.
Can you do watersports at Cotswold Country Park?
Yes, paddleboarding, kayaking and pedalos are available seasonally and charged separately.
Is Cotswold Country Park busy in summer?
Yes, it gets busy on hot weekends, so arriving early helps with parking and finding a spot.