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The UK's largest indoor water park once drew in visitors from across the country, but today it no longer exists after closing for good and being demolished. Wet N Wild, located in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, was a popular attraction for decades before shutting its doors permanently. The indoor water park first opened on July 19, 1993, and at the time was the largest of its kind in the UK.

It was part of the Royal Quays complex and quickly became a favourite for families thanks to its slides, wave machine and rapids. The attraction remained open for 27 years, although it faced plenty of challenges in its later years. Eventually, the rising costs and falling visitor numbers made it increasingly difficult to keep the site running and the park closed for good in 2019.

The park remained abandoned for several years, with the site left empty and falling into disrepair. Reports at the time suggested the building was targeted by vandals and suffered multiple break-ins after closing.

Demolition of the former water park finally began on November 8, 2024, bringing an end to the site for good.

When it first opened, Wet N Wild was known for its large range of slides and attractions.

One of its most famous rides was the Kamikaze, which featured an 80-foot drop and was once the steepest water slide in the UK.

There was also the Black Hole, a two-person tyre slide stretching 165 metres, which became one of the park's best-known features.

Other attractions included the Tornado Racer, where visitors could race side-by-side, and the Abyss, which featured multiple drops.

Families could also enjoy a wave machine, rapids and a children's play area known as Discovery Island.

The park even had a small outdoor pool that opened during the summer months, alongside a café serving food and drinks.

One of its main selling points was its indoor climate, which was heated to around 29C to create a tropical feel all year round.

However, this feature was later removed when the park reopened in 2014 due to the high costs involved.

Wet N Wild first closed in 2013 after entering administration but reopened a year later following a £1.1million refurbishment.

The relaunch included updated facilities such as a new café, soft play area and improved changing rooms.

Despite these changes, the park struggled to attract enough visitors and faced ongoing maintenance issues.

In 2019, operators confirmed it would close again, with the site never reopening afterwards.