With summer in full swing, the avid swimmers among you may be desperate to break free from your local leisure centres and catch some rays whilst you breast stroke. So, whether you’re looking for a vintage lido experience, or a bathe by moonlight, we’ve rounded up Britain’s best pools for a spot of outdoor swimming!
For vintage seaside enthusiasts - Saltdean Lido, Brighton
Brighton is renowned as one of the traditional English seaside destinations, so if you fancy a splash of vintage glamour, head to Saltdean Lido. Built between 1937/8 in a beautiful modernist style, it has numerous features of note, including a crescent shaped pool and a reinstated art deco fountain. Along with the Royal Brighton Pavilion, it’s been named one of the seven wonders of the English seaside by Historic England, so after your dip head to the infamous Grade I listed Royal Palace to tick two sights off the list.
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Image Credit: Alan (Fred) Pipes via Flickr
Saltdean Lido is located at Saltdean Park Road, Saltdean, Brighton, BN2 8SP
For starry-eyed swimmers - Stonehaven Open Air Pool, Aberdeen
Another Art-Deco destination, Stonehaven Open Air Pool in Aberdeen is a seawater pool perfect for training athletes, as at 55 yards long, it qualifies as Olympic size! It’s had an interesting history - including providing recreation and showers for locally based troops during WWII - but one of its current attractions is that it is open from 10pm till midnight on Wednesdays in peak season, allowing starry eyed swimmers to bathe in the moonlight.
Image Credit: Stoney Openair Pool via Twitter
Stonehaven Open Air Pool is located at Queen Elizabeth Park, Stonehaven, AB39 2RD
For inland salt seekers - Droitwich Spa Lido, Worcestershire
Who would have thought you could get a salty taste of the sea in in-land Worcestershire? Dating back to the 1930s, Droitwich Spa Lido is one of the few remaining open-air, inland, salt-water swimming pools in the UK, and has previously been voted the 5th best lido in Britain by The Times. Its pool water is diluted brine sourced from local streams - fun fact, brine from Droitwich Spa contains ten times more salt than seawater! Check out our Top 5 Historical Hotspots in Worcestershire article for more information about Droitwich’s salty past.
Image Credit: Rivers Fitness via Twitter
Droitwich Spa Lido is located at the Lido Park, Worcester Road, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, WR9 8AA
For luxurious spa lovers - Thermae Spa, Bath
If you prefer your pools for relaxation as opposed to exercise, the rooftop pool at Thermae Spa is the perfect destination for a luxurious float with a view of Bath Abbey bell tower. The pool water is 33.5 degrees Celsius - “optimum bathing temperature”- and is sourced from the local natural thermal springs, which have historically been enjoyed by the Celts, Saxons and Georgians, and of course the Romans, who famously built the city’sRoman Baths.
Image Credit: Thermae Bath Spa via Twitter
Thermae Spa is located at The Hetling Pump Room, Hot Bath Street, Bath, BA1 1SJ
For adventurous natural swimmers - Wastwater, Cumbria
Too much of a daredevil for a commercial pool or lido? Head to Wastwater in Cumbria, the deepest lake in the Lake District National Park. Owned by the National Trust, Wastwater is surrounded by Red Pike, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Scafell Pike - the highest mountain in England - offering stunning mountainous views whilst you swim. Whilst the lake is recommended as a perfect swimming spot due to low boat traffic, check out this swimming safety guide before you embark upon your wild water adventure.
Image Credit: lakeslover2010 via Flickr
Wastwater is located in the Wasdale Valley, Cumbria