Splashdown Quaywest in Paignton: A Practical Guide to Torbay's Waterpark

Splashdown Quaywest is a dedicated waterpark rather than a conventional swimming pool, and that distinction matters when you plan your visit. The core attraction here is the water slide experience, which is the reason most visitors make the trip to Goodrington Sands. Where a standard pool invites lengths and lane swimming, a slide-led venue like this is built around movement, queues, splash landings and short bursts of adrenaline.

With a 4.2-star rating, the venue has earned consistent approval from those who have visited. In my experience inspecting waterparks, a score in that range usually reflects a well-run operation where the slides deliver on excitement and the supervision is taken seriously. It is the kind of place that appeals to children who have grown out of paddling pools, to teenagers chasing a thrill, and to adults who still enjoy the rush of a fast descent.

You will find Splashdown Quaywest at Goodrington Sands, with the postcode TQ4 6LN, in Paignton. This places it firmly within the Torbay area on the South Devon coast — a stretch known across Britain for its beaches and seaside resorts. Goodrington Sands itself is a recognised coastal spot, so the waterpark sits exactly where you would hope a slide attraction would: close to the shoreline, within easy reach of a wider seaside day out.

For visitors travelling from outside the area, Paignton is a familiar destination on the Torbay coast, and Goodrington Sands is a short distance from the main town. If you are pairing the waterpark with a beach afternoon, the location works well: you can split the day between indoor slide thrills and time on the sand. I always advise arriving with the postcode entered into your sat-nav, as coastal car parks can fill quickly during peak periods.

A waterpark visit rewards a little forethought. Because the experience here is built around slides, the busiest times tend to follow predictable patterns: school holidays, weekends and the warmer months when families flock to the Torbay coast. If you have flexibility, an early arrival on a weekday gives you the best run at the slides with the shortest queues — something I recommend at every busy water venue I assess.

Bring the essentials you would take to any swim session: swimwear, a towel, and a change of clothes. For slide-focused days I suggest secure-fitting swimwear, as fast descents and splash landings can dislodge anything loose. Goggles are optional on slides but useful, and a waterproof bag for valuables keeps your day stress-free. Plan to eat before or after rather than mid-session, since slide activity on a full stomach is rarely comfortable.

If you are travelling with a group of mixed ages and confidence levels, agree a meeting point before you split up. Waterparks are deliberately energetic environments, and a clear plan keeps younger or less confident members of the group from feeling lost in the activity.

Slides are where most of the excitement — and most of the risk — lives, so I want to be direct about safe behaviour. After nearly three decades in swimming education and water safety, my guidance is simple and proven. Always follow the posted instructions and the directions of staff at the top of each slide. These rules govern how many people can ride, the correct riding position, and the gap required between riders. They exist because slide collisions are the most common cause of avoidable injury at venues like this.

Wait for the all-clear before you set off, and never assume the rider ahead has cleared the splash zone. Adopt the position you are told to use — usually feet-first and lying back — rather than experimenting with your own. At the bottom, move clear of the landing area promptly so the next rider has a safe finish.

Supervision matters enormously for families. Children should be watched closely, and parents should match the activity to a child's swimming ability rather than their enthusiasm. Confidence in water is not the same as competence, and a fast slide is not the place to discover the difference. If your child is not yet a secure swimmer, stay within arm's reach in any open water and choose the gentler features first. These are the habits I encourage in every learner who passes through my own swim school, and they apply just as firmly on a day out as they do in a lesson.

One of the real strengths of Splashdown Quaywest is its setting within Torbay, an area rich in places to swim and relax. If you want to round out your trip with a different kind of water experience, the region offers more than slides alone.

I would point you towards Shoalstone Pool in Torbay, a contrasting option for anyone who enjoys swimming in a more open, natural-feeling setting. Where Splashdown is all about energetic slide thrills, a venue like Shoalstone offers a calmer way to enjoy the water by the coast. Pairing the two across a weekend gives you the best of both worlds: the adrenaline of the waterpark and a gentler swim elsewhere in Torbay. For families with mixed tastes, that variety can be the difference between a good trip and a memorable one.

Because both sit within the same coastal region, you can build a swim-focused itinerary without travelling far. I often recommend this approach to visitors who want to make the most of a seaside break: treat the area as a small network of water experiences rather than a single destination.