As we head towards the Summer half term with a heatwave approaching, why not treat the family to a paddling or swimming pool this year!
You should expect to pay 10-50% more than we did before Covid-19 as import prices from China are 2-4x pre-pandemic.
We’ve got you covered with our best selling and top 10 favourite paddling pools and garden pools for this year.
After all, in the sizzling heat what better way is there to enjoy your outdoor space than dipping your toes in a paddling pool or taking a lap around your very own above ground swimming pool before wrangling the kids off to bed!
In This Guide
Last Update – 29th May 2021
Remember, not all pools are built alike and if you’re looking for something a bit special you’ve come to the right place.
PatioMate has been hunting out the best deals paddling and swimming pools to bring you the best the market has to offer.
Oh and don’t forget to buy your tap adaptor if you need one!
10 Best Selling Paddling Pools
Due to stock shortages our personal favourites are frequently out of stock. We recommend looking at the best sellers so you stand a chance at purchasing a pool that’s actually in stock!
Intex Swim Centre Family Pool With Seats
Free shipping
Amazon.co.uk - Great family size pool with Built-in inflatable seats
- 2x drinks holders, Pre-tested vinyl
- Convenient drain plug in floor
- Folds compactly for traveling and storage
- Size: Family Lounge Pool W 229.0cm x D 229cm x H 66.0cm
Don’t be fooled by the name, many users are purchasing this bargain pool with no intention of filling it with little people. With 4 integrated seats and 2 built in cupholders this pool is perfect for any family parties, friend gatherings or simply for you to relax in at leisure.
At an impressive 229cm x 229cm x 66 cm, this pool is incredible value for money. There is space enough for several fully grown adults or mum, dad and all the kids. For price, design and functionality this is PatioMates number one pool this summer.
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Bestway Pool Frame Splash Jr. Steel Pro
Amazon.co.uk - Steel Pro Rectangular Frame Pool - easy set up with no tools required (7 feet 3 Inch x 59 Inch x 17 Inch/2.21 m x 1.50 m x 43 cm)
- Strong and corrosion resistant steel structure with heavy duty PVC and polyester three ply walls - makes for a durable and reliable pool
- Mosaic pattern print on inner lining, sides and bottom - gives your garden pool an authentic look
- The ideal garden pool - room for all the family to enjoy splashing around in your own backgarden
This Jr pool is perfect for the kids this summer. At 221cm x 150cm x 43cm there is plenty of space for a birthday pool party out in the garden.
Setting up and filling this pool is described as fast and simple by users so it is ideal if you’re short on time before your guests arrive. Equally this pool would make a fabulous gift for large breed dogs who love a good paddle.
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Intex Rectangular Frame Pool
Free shipping
Amazon.co.uk - Pool Made from puncture resistant 3-ply material
- Zinc-plated and powder-coated frame design
- Water capacity 439gals/1662L
- Four corner seats each hold up to 70 kg weight
- Measures 86. 5in (L) x 59in (W) x 23. 5in (h)
- Pool made from puncture resistant 3-ply material
The battle seems well and truly on between the two top pool manufacturers this season, with the Intex Frame Pool just taking the lead by offering a deeper alternative to Bestways Jr pool.
With fantastic reviews this pool is suitable for adults and children alike and the extra 17cm goes a long way in ensuring your inflatables remain inside the pool.
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Bestway Steel Pro Frame Pool & Pump
Amazon.co.uk - wilton Bradley 10ft Steel Frame Pool
- Steel Frame,rust resistant galvanized metal frame
- Dimensions 10ft x 30(305cm x 76cm)
- Pvc and polyester heavt duty 3-ply wall support
- Inc: flow clear filter pump
At an incredible10 feet in diameter and 30 inches deep this goliath pool is great for a large party or family reunion, or if you just want more space to swim solo this is the pool for you.
With a sturdy steel frame and a useful filtration pump included Bestway have pulled out all the stops to enable everyone to enjoy swimming at their own leisure.
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Peradix Sprinkler & Splash Play Mat Pad
Free shipping
Amazon.co.uk - 【Perfect Toys for Toddlers 】- The upgraded inflatable layer is independent of the water spray layer. In summer, you can use it as an outdoor water spray mat or paddling pool. In winter, it can be indoors, filled with air, used as a ball pool, and a small amusement park for children. ❤ Extra Fun: We add 10 plastic counters for kids to compete and learn to count, stepping on the numbers of the wading pool will have a corresponding reward.
The Peradix Sprinkler & Splash Play Mat Pad is great if you’ve got little adventurers at home, this pool inspires creative play with it’s many features. At a rather impressive 170cm this pool has been designed to keep the squabbles at bay.
Great for little ones and the older ones too. Just inflate and go!
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Bestway Power Steel Rectangular Swimming Pool
Amazon.co.uk - Power Steel Frame Rectangular Pool Set with filter pump - easy set up with no tools required (18 feet x 9 feet x 48 Inch/5.49 m x 2.74 m x 1.22 m)
- Strong and corrosion resistant steel structure with heavy duty PVC and polyester three ply walls - makes for a durable and reliable pool
- Comes with a complete pool set - pool, filter pump, safety ladder and ground cloth
- The ideal garden pool - room for all the family to enjoy splashing around in your own backgarden
The Bestway Power Steel Rectangular Swimming Pool is a fantastic pool, centred around family fun. Set up is simple and the rust resistant steel frame is sure to endure the test of time.
At 5.5m long and 2.74m wide this pool is comfortable for a family to play together in. Designed with children at the heart of their interests Bestway have delivered a fantastic pool sure to be a firm favourite for adults and children alike.
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Intex Small Family Frame Pool
Intex up again with this budget friendly small family frame paddling pool. Perfect for younger children and smaller families. We do recommend spending the extra £12 and getting the family bundle that comes with a cover to help heat the water and protect from the bugs!
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Intex Dinosaur Play Centre
5 used from £25.62
Amazon.co.uk - Approximate inflated size 249 x 191 x 109 cm
- Pool includes slide, water sprayer and waterfall
- Water sprayer and water fall attach to garden hose
With the summer holidays in full swing, the Intex DinoSaur Play Centre comes with a slide, water sprayer and waterfall.
Great for children aged 3 and up and it comes supplied with 6 colourful balls for the hungry dino!
Lots of fun and we had this two summers ago before a bee decided to puncture the volcano!
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Hillington Jumbo Deluxe Rectangular Inflatable Family Swimming Pool
Amazon.co.uk - HILLINGTON INFLATABLE RECTANGULAR POOL - Built to last in sturdy, pre-tested vinyl, these large and fun inflatable garden pools will provide fun for the family year after year
- SAFETY FEATURES - Using multiple L-beam chambers, and a huge, toughened ring to form the outer walls, the construction and design of the pool ensures it can support the weight of the water without deflating, and an in-built safety valve allows for easy and fast inflation and deflation
This easy to inflate and classic rectangular paddling pool from Hillington is a great no frills and pool. If you’re looking for something simple that is well rated and will survive more than one summer then this is the pool for you!
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All Seasons Gazebos and Hot Tubs Premium 4-6 Person Inflatable Hot Tub + 3x3m Heavy Duty Pop up Gazebo + Side Panels
Amazon.co.uk - Superb Premium Package consisting of 1 x 4-6 person Inflatable Hot Tub and 1 x 3x3m Heavy Duty Gazebo + 4 Side Panels
- A Fantastic Saving by purchasing these items as a package rather than separately
- Heavy Duty Gazebo has 24 support struts in the roof - No need for windbars unlike many "Budget" type gazebos on the market
- The inflatable hot tub has a built in generator, no outside materials, with 130 Soothing air jets which create thousands of bubbles around you
If you’ve got older kids like me then maybe this heated and fully kitted hot tub is more your flavour. Suitable for ages 5+ although we recommend younger children take a break every 5 to 20 minutes.
The Ultimate Guide for Keeping Your Toys & Pools Safe
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Child Safety
Never let your children play unsupervised in bodies of water. Young children are at particular risk of drowning in as little as 5cm of water.
Always wear sunscreen or protective UV wet suits and put a sun-hat on the smaller kids too!
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How to Clean Your Pool
Cleaning your pool can be a chore, but preventing algae and bacteria growth and the inevitable slips and tumbles that result is an absolute must!
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How Often Should I Change The Water?
We recommend changing the water every day, however this can be quite costly and wasteful for larger pools. The alternative is to use an algaecide treatment to inhibit algae growth and the bacteria and germs that feed off of it.
You can also try using a solar cover to keep the heat in and the germs out.
When it’s time to refill the pool, try to recycle the water – use it to wash the car, water your plants or get a slip and slide out and use the pool water with a few drops of fairy liquid!
Looking for ways to make that water last longer? Treat it instead, to make sure it lasts as long as possible!
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Storing Your Paddling Pool & PVC Toys
After you’ve drained your pool and cleaned it thoroughly, we recommend that you dry it with a microfibre towel or cloth and leave it in the sun to fully dry out.
If you’ve got a dehumidifer then use that to ensure you’ve got all of the moisture off of the pool and this will prevent mould growth.
Once you’ve completely dried your pool then fold it up and store it in a cool dry area whenever possible.
Some pools can be quite cumbersome so we recommend buying a garden storage box to keep them in. Most of them are waterproof and they have kept our pools dry and safe for 2 years now!
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Our Favourite Pools by Size or Purpose
We’ve also picked a few of our favourite pools by subcategory to help you find the best pools in each subgenre!
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Large Paddling Pools
Here’s our top 3 favourite large paddling pools. If you’ve got multiple children or are looking for adult friendly pools, or mayble you want to get the animals in on the fun, then these larger paddling pools might be just what you’re looking for.
Dimensions (Length x Width x Depth cm)
| Pool | Pro’s | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| Sable Paddling Pool | Great for gardens up to 3m | 300x183x50 |
| Bestway Large Family Pool | Slightly larger and usually the cheapest of the three | 305x183x56 |
| Bestway Rectangle Swimming Pool | Largest of the three and is great for swimming in too | 400x211x81 |
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Heated Paddling Pools & Paddling Pool Heaters
Let’s be honest, when you and I were kids our parents would fill the pool up from the hose and we’d splash around for hours no matter how bloody cold that water was.
Times have changed and as technology has progressed there are now a number of ways to heat your paddling pool or swimming pool without breaking the bank. I also love swimming with the kids, but can’t stand it when the water is just so cold!
When looking to heat your pool, you’ve got one of three options.
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Solar Covers
Solar covers are bar far the cheapest option and come in two variants. You can get a fitted sheet for your pool, or a generic insulating plastic that is effectively just bubble wrap.
These covers keep the bugs out of the pool and will offer a modest 2-5c boost to your water temperature depending on whether the sun decides to grace us with its presence!
- Eco-friendly Solar technology that increases the temperature of the pool water by approximately 3-5deg depending on the size of pool and weather conditions.
- Suitable for above ground pools with a capacity less than 30,280L (8,000gals). Mats can be joined together for bigger pools.
- Simply attach to a filter pump with flow rate less than 2,500gph (9,463L/h)
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Solar Heaters
Solar Heaters are great when used in combination with solar covers. The combined effect can increase your water temperature by 5-7 celcius compared to uncovered and unheated pools.
They do require a pump, so these are only really suitable for larger pools.
- Size 3.56 m (140 Inch) - fits 3.66 m (12 ft ) fast set pools and 3.66 m (12 ft) steel pro frame pools
- Cover floats on water surface to provide heat insulation
- Prevents dirt and debris accumulating in your pool
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Electric Heaters & Heat Pumps
Electric heaters are also suitable for small to medium pools – most small electric heaters run at 2-2.2kW and cost roughly 19p an hour to run (based on 14p per kw).
They are for the most part cheaper to purchase than pumps but running costs are much higher. However they are better equipped at dealing with smaller pools than heat pumps.
Ideal for 6-12ft pools
Heat Pumps are a much more efficient alternative to standard electric heaters as they offer up to 400-800% more efficiency per kW consumed when compared to standard electric heaters.
They’re more suited to larger (12ft+) pools
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Couldn’t find what you were looking for?
Looking to buy a pool for collection or delivery today? Why not see what Argos has to offer.
Last update on 2021-09-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
