Swimming Pools in the UK

Finding a swimming pool in the UK

Swimming pools are the council leisure centres in every town, run by the council or a trust, with the main pool, a learner pool, lane swimming, family sessions, lessons and the gym; the lidos and outdoor pools open in summer or heated all year; the hotel and health club pools open to members and day guests; the school pools open to the public in the evenings; and the private pools — hydrotherapy, small heated pools and home pools — hired by the hour for lessons, parties and rehabilitation. Prices, sessions and timetables vary, and the timetable is the thing to read: the same pool is lanes at seven, lessons at four and an inflatable session on a Saturday afternoon.

Lessons are where most families meet the pool: council and private swim schools teach children from about four in small groups through the Swim England stages, with adult lessons and improver sessions for the many who never learned or stopped; waiting lists are long at the good schools, and the private swim schools in hotel and private pools charge more for smaller groups and warmer water. Memberships suit anyone swimming twice a week or more, pay-as-you-go covers the rest, and concessions cover children, seniors, students and those on benefits at council pools.

The listings here show each pool's type and facilities, sessions and timetable, lessons, prices and memberships, hours and contact details, so you can see what is nearby, who runs lane swimming or lessons or a lido, and where people in your town swim.

Kinds of swimming pool

Leisure centre pools: council and trust pools with main and learner pools, lane and family sessions, lessons, aqua classes, inflatable sessions and a gym.

Lidos and outdoor pools: heated and unheated outdoor pools open in summer or all year, with sunbathing space and queues on hot days.

Hotel, spa and health club pools: members' and day-guest pools with saunas and steam rooms, quieter and warmer, at a price.

School and community pools: school pools open to the public evenings and weekends, and village pools run by volunteers in summer.

Private and hydrotherapy pools: small heated pools for lessons, hire and parties, and hydrotherapy pools for rehabilitation and disability swimming.

Before you go swimming

• Read the timetable; lanes, family, lessons and classes have their own slots and the pool may be closed to public swimming.
• Book online where the pool requires it; popular lane and family sessions sell out.
• Check the rules for children: ratios of adults to under-eights, armbands, and the learner pool.
• For lessons, join the waiting list early and ask the group size, the stages taught and the teacher's qualifications.
• Ask about memberships if you swim twice a week; they usually include the gym and classes.
• Check accessibility: hoists, changing places, quiet sessions and disability swimming.

What swimming costs in the UK

As a rough guide, a public swim costs £4 to £7 for an adult and £2 to £4 for a child at a council pool, with family tickets £10 to £18 and concessions; lidos £5 to £10; hotel and health club day passes £15 to £40; memberships £25 to £60 a month at council pools with the gym and £60 to £150 at health clubs; children's lessons £8 to £15 a week in council groups and £12 to £25 at private swim schools, adult lessons £10 to £20 a session; and private pool hire £30 to £80 an hour. Many councils offer free swimming for under-16s and over-60s at set times.

A council membership at £35 a month is the cheapest gym, pool and sauna combination in any town, and the lessons are the reason the children can swim.