Wales


<p>Scorching hot days in Wales may not come around all that often, and when they do, we&#8217;re never quite sure what to do with ourselves. Ice creams become a food group, beaches fill up, and suddenly everyone&#8217;s googling &#8220;nearest outdoor swimming pool&#8221;. Luckily Wales is packed with brilliant ways to cool off, whether that&#8217;s taking a dip in an outdoor pool, escaping to blissfully air-conditioned exhibition, or finding a new favourite ice-cream parlour. Aside from the best of <a href="https://wales.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/walks-near-me/wales-best-pub-walks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">strolls with pub gardens</a> at the end, and <a href="https://wales.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/walks-near-me/best-waterfall-walks-wales/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wild swimming and waterfalls</a>, here are some of the very best ways to keep your cool during the heatwave.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ice-ice-baby">Ice, ice baby</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="600" height="400" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/06/Vindico-Arena.png" alt="Vindico Arena" class="wp-image-8099" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/06/Vindico-Arena.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/06/Vindico-Arena-300x200.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re looking to knock a few degrees off, an ice rink is about as cool as it gets. Head to Cardiff Bay’s <a href="https://www.vindicoarena.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vindico Arena</a>, home of the Cardiff Devils ice hockey team and swap melting in the sunshine for a spin on the ice. Public skating sessions last 90 mins and cost £13.50 including skate hire (£6 for under fives), but there’s plenty more on offer if you&#8217;re feeling adventurous. Fancy channelling your inner Torvill and Dean? Sign up for a figure skating lesson. More of a disco diva? Keep an eye out for themed events, from ice discos to family-friendly superhero skate nights.</p>



<p>North Wales skaters will already know and love <a href="https://gwella.wales/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deeside Ice Arena</a>, the long-standing home of ice sports in the region and a training venue for ITV&#8217;s <em>Dancing on Ice</em> celebrities. It&#8217;s currently closed for six weeks while redevelopment plans progress, but we&#8217;ll be counting down the days until it&#8217;s back open and ready to welcome us for a cooling glide.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soak-up-culture-not-the-sun">Soak up culture, not the sun</h2>



<p>A very civilised way to escape the heat? Retreat to one of Wales&#8217; excellent museums. Bright, spacious and blissfully cool, they&#8217;re the perfect place to  swap sun cream for a spot of culture while the temperatures soar. Wales is home to seven national museums, housing everything from dinosaurs and Impressionist masterpieces to fashion, industry and natural history.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="600" height="400" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/06/National-Museum-Cardiff.png" alt="National Museum Cardiff" class="wp-image-8104" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/06/National-Museum-Cardiff.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/06/National-Museum-Cardiff-300x200.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://museum.wales/cardiff/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Museum Cardiff</a> is a particularly good shout during a heatwave. Right in the city centre, its brilliant Evolution of Wales galleries take visitors on a journey from the Big Bang to the present day, while major exhibitions, including the current <em>Ffasiwn</em> display, offer even more reasons to linger. And it’s not all hushed galleries and glass cases. Alongside its permanent collections, the museum regularly hosts after-hours science shows, dinosaur sleepovers and even silent discos. Not a bad place to cool down.</p>



<p>Elsewhere, art lovers should make a beeline for <a href="https://moma.cymru/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MOMA Machynlleth</a>, while <a href="https://www.oriel.org.uk/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oriel Plas Glyn Y Weddw</a> in Pwllheli offers everything from writing workshops and exhibitions to live theatre and events throughout the summer.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-inside-scoop">The inside scoop</h2>



<p>Ice cream in Wales comes with proper pedigree, from old-school scoops at the seaside to small-batch crazy creations with flavours you never knew you needed. <a href="https://cadwaladers.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cadwaladers</a> has been a Welsh favourite since 1927, serving classic cones and sundaes from Criccieth, Porthmadog, Betws-y-Coed, Cardiff Bay and Porthcawl. You&#8217;ll spend much longer choosing a flavour than you will eating it, and if you&#8217;re struggling to decide, the Crunchie sundae is always a solid decision.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="400" height="600" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/06/Fablas.png" alt="Fablas" class="wp-image-8107" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/06/Fablas.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/06/Fablas-200x300.png 200w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://fablasicecream.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fablas</a> is a growing favourite across South Wales, founded by a mother-and-daughter team with a focus on local ingredients, including milk and cream sourced just a few miles from their base. Their parlours in Barry Island, Caerphilly, Cowbridge, Penarth and Porthcawl are known for inventive flavours and a melted chocolate tap that&#8217;s worth the trip alone.</p>



<p>For something more traditional, <a href="https://www.joes-icecream.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joe’s</a> Ice Cream has been serving its famous family recipe since 1922, with branches across Swansea, Cardiff and Llanelli. Up in Abersoch, award-winning <a href="https://www.twoislandsicecream.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Two Islands Ice Cream</a> champions small-batch flavours made fresh each day using Welsh dairy while <a href="https://www.glaslynices.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Glaslyn Ices</a> in Beddgelert serves scrumptious scoops in the heart of Snowdonia, from salted caramel to rum and chocolate truffle.</p>



<p>And then there&#8217;s <a href="https://iamsubzero.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subzero</a>, with sites in Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Newport. Think Willy Wonka&#8217;s Chocolate Factory, but for ice cream. Expect dozens of flavours, towering sundaes, waffles piled high with toppings and over 60 years of ice cream know-how. Better still, it&#8217;s open late throughout the summer for those post-dinner cravings.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-splash-around">Splash around</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="600" height="400" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/06/Ponty-Lido.png" alt="Lido Ponty" class="wp-image-8111" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/06/Ponty-Lido.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/06/Ponty-Lido-300x200.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></figure>



<p>When the sun&#8217;s blazing, getting in the water is pretty much mandatory. <a href="https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Resident/SportsandLeisure/Lido/Home.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lido Ponty</a> in Pontypridd is Wales&#8217; only outdoor lido and, unsurprisingly, a firm summer favourite. Lovingly restored to its former glory, the Grade II-listed pool hosts everything from early morning lane swims to family splash sessions. At weekends and during the school holidays, things get even more fun, with inflatable obstacle courses, Aqua Peddlerz and Water Walkers all in the mix. Afterwards, dry off with a stroll through the park, let the kids loose in the play area or reward yourself with an ice cream from the café. Better still, casual and family sessions cost just £3.50 per adult and children go free. Result.</p>



<p>Got little ones in tow? Splash parks are your best friend during a heatwave. Cardiff&#8217;s much loved Splashpad in <a href="https://www.outdoorcardiff.com/parks/victoria-park/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Victoria Park</a>, along with watery play areas at Morgan Jones Park in Caerphilly, <a href="https://haloleisure.org.uk/centres/cyfarthfa-park/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cyfarthfa Park</a> in Merthyr Tydfil and Ammanford Park, all offer plenty of splash-filled fun without the need to commit to a full day out.</p>



<p>For guaranteed splashing &#8211; and an excellent way to burn off some energy &#8211; <a href="https://www.leisurecentre.com/cardiff-international-pool-and-gym" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cardiff International Pool &amp; Gym</a> is hard to beat. With flumes, a lazy river, whirlpools and the ever-popular spacebowl, it&#8217;s the sort of place where a quick visit can easily turn into an all-day affair. Tickets start from £9.35 for adults. </p>



<p>Or head west to <a href="https://www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/centres/lc-swansea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LC Swansea</a>, Wales&#8217; biggest indoor waterpark, where you can brave the Master Blaster rollercoaster slide, ride the waves or just float around the lazy river. Tickets are around £10 for adults, with under ones going free.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="600" height="400" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/06/Lisvane-and-Llanishen-Reservoirs.png" alt="Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs" class="wp-image-8112" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/06/Lisvane-and-Llanishen-Reservoirs.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/06/Lisvane-and-Llanishen-Reservoirs-300x200.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></figure>



<p>If you’re after something a bit more adventurous than a casual dip, Wales has lots to offer in terms of water sports. <a href="https://lisvane-llanishen.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs</a> in Cardiff offer a brilliant city escape with open-water swimming sessions alongside canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing. Whether you&#8217;re gliding across the water on a paddleboard or taking the plunge for a refreshing swim, it&#8217;s an easy way to cool down without venturing too far from the city. Plus, those reservoir views aren&#8217;t bad either.</p>



<p>For something with a lot more bite, head to the <a href="http://National White Water Centre" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National White Water Centre</a> in Bala. This is firmly adrenaline-junkie territory, where you can tackle white-water rapids, join a rafting safari through fast-moving water (just imagine that lovely breeze). For the truly brave, there’s the Orca Extreme Experience, a 4.5-hour white-water challenge that&#8217;s very much not for the faint-hearted. Think crashing rapids, aching muscles and an enormous sense of achievement at the end. Plus, on a day like this, that constant splash of cold water sounds pretty appealing.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-time-for-another-one">TIME FOR ANOTHER ONE?</h2>



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Heatwave incoming! The coolest ways to beat the heat around the country

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