Small Outdoor Bathroom For Pool
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Yes, we are rapidly saying goodbye to summer and the lovely warm weather that comes along with it. But, as Autumn gets into full swing, you don't necessarily have to say arrivederci to swimming in your favourite outdoor pool, too. In fact, swimming is a fantastic way to stay fit the whole year round – although you may have to adjust your expectations from 'fun dip' to 'quite chilly workout'.
The benefits of swimming range from improving your muscle mass to helping to support your mental health. Factor in the wins that come with cold water exposure, and you can see why jumping in an outdoor pool should be high on your list of workouts to try.
Plus, if you corral a friend into coming with you, it can be a shared shivery experience! And don't worry, WH has done the leg work so you don't have to keep searching 'outdoor swimming near me', 'swimming near me' or 'public pools near me'. Yep, you're welcome.
Okay, Speedo swimsuits at the ready, let's get into everything you need to know about outdoor pools and open-air swimming pools in the UK and where to find your closest one.
What's the difference between a lido and an outdoor pool?
They seem pretty similar, eh. The key difference between lidos and outdoor pools is that a lido tends to be near a body of water, e.g. a beach or sea. Saying that some outdoor swimming pools buck the trend – e.g. Brockwell Lido and Tooting Bec Lido. They're both outdoor public pools, so we'd suggest worrying less about the name and more about how many strokes you're going to master by the end of the year.
What do I need to know about swimming in colder weather?
Unless the outdoor pool you're swimming in is heated, the temperature is going to be something to contend with. As the weather cools down, water temperature naturally follows suit and those refreshing summer dips can quickly become bracing Autumn plunges. To combat this, there are a couple of things to take into consideration.
From the clothing you choose to wear (swimming gloves, water boots and wetsuits are all viable options) to how long you plan on staying in the water and what you're going to have in your gym bag to wear afterwards (thick, dry socks and warm layers), try to think critically about your time at the outdoor pool. It's always better to be prepared than be taken unawares!
When will UK swimming pools reopen?
Outdoor swimming pools are open now!
Outdoor swimming pools were given the go-ahead to reopen on 29th March 2021, whilst indoor pools and gyms were able to reopen from 12th April 2021 in England. However, there are still some rules and precautions about heading back to your closest open swimming pool.
Swim England Guidelines state that you should not go to the pool if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, you should check your local pool's timetable and swimming guidelines before leaving the house and that you should aim to arrive at the pool ready to swim, with your swimming costume or swimming shorts on to minimise time spent in the changing room. The full list of guidelines can be found on the Swim England website.
Now, without further ado—scroll WH's pick of the best open outdoor swimming pools and lidos in the UK.
21 outdoor pools and outdoor swimming near me, wherever you're based
Outdoor Pools Near Me, North UK
Hathersage Swimming Pool
Where? The Peak District
Best for? Blissfully serene surroundings
Welcoming swimmers since the 1930s, this picturesque Lido is right at home amidst the stunning scenery of the surrounding Peak District. Do your laps while lapping up the view—if that's not relaxation, we don't know what is.
Ilkley Pool and Lido
Where? Ilkley, West Yorkshire
Best for? Post-swim refuel in the shape of the UK's best afternoon tea
Yep, you read that right. While Ilkley Lido in and of itself is a real credit and regarded as one of the North's best outdoor swimming pools, it also just so happens to be really rather close to Betty's Tea Room in nearby Ilkley Town. Home to the afternoon tea, Bettys has been serving scones, cakes, finger sandwiches and a good English Breakfast brew for as long as we can remember. Ideal post-swim snack stop? We think so.
Shap Swimming Pool
Where? Shap, Cumbria
Best for? A day at the UK's highest outdoor pool
Not to be missed: at 900 foot above sea level, this Lake District wonder will stick with you for years after your visit. It's heated, 20-metres long and offers a smaller paddling pool, for if you have littler ones in tow. Enjoy.
Nantwich Outdoor Brine Pool
Where? Cheshire
Best for? Those with asthma or allergies
Scratching your head as to why a pool could be good for those with allergies? Bear with us on this one: the Nantwich 'salt pit' is a brine spring (or saltwater pool) that has long been loved for its health benefits, and is much kinder on the skin of anyone with long-standing asthma or allergy problems. It's one of the few remaining brine pools in the UK and is now heated, too, meaning you get to enjoy all the benefits of a brine pool without the shock of a cold water swim. Win, win.
USwim at Salford Quays
Where? Manchester
Best for? Open water swimming up North with a real sense of community
Fancy a splash in the newly renovated Salford waters? You're in luck—USwim runs several weekly sessions in the water outside Media City. Plus, the council runs other swims nearby in a smaller neighbouring dock.
Gourock Outdoor Pool
Where? Renfrewshire
Best for? Experiencing Scotland's oldest lido
An oldie but a goodie—plus, Gourock Outdoor Pool has diving boards (!!!). Soak up the mesmerising views of the nearby River Clyde, get moving with one of their popular aqua classes or take a dip come dark for a midnight swim under the stars.
Stonehaven Open Air Pool
Where? Aberdeen
Best for? Outdoor swimming on an Olympic scale
Yes, it's an Olympic-sized pool, yes, it's heated and yes, it is filled with filtered seawater. That pretty much ticks all the boxes of what you'd want from an outdoor pool, no?
And that's before we get started on the gloriously Wes Anderson-esque decking, throwing it back to the 1930's when it first opened with warm hues of sunshine yellow and sky blue. Fun fact: it's actually a listed Art Deco building, making the journey even more worthwhile. Swimming and sightseeing? Yes, please.
Bude Sea Pool
Where? Bude, Cornwall
Best for? Its sheer beauty
We mean, just look at that photo. Sparkling blue sea water, glorious sunshine and sighing coastal views, all offering the complete joy of swimming in the sea without any fear of, ahem, getting washed away.
Situated in the rocks at Summerleaze Beach, Bude is a partially man-made tidal swimming pool, perfect for any adventurous swimmer.
Jubilee Pool
Where? Penzance, Cornwall
Best for? Art deco architecture dating back to the 1930s
Another lido, another seriously cool Art Deco quirk: this time, in the form of Cubist style changing rooms down in the south of England on Cornwall's scenic coast.
Tinside Lido
Where? Plymouth
Best for? Boat watching
From small fishing boats to huge ferries, you'll catch just about every type of boat floating into the harbour from Tinside Lido, Plymouth's much-loved outdoor pool.
It's a saltwater-filled affair and one that gives you a great view of The Sound, one of Plymouth's most popular bays. It's also got three fountains for the kids to splash in.
Sandford Parks Lido
Where? Cheltenham
Best for? A splash about at one of the largest pools in the country
At 50-metres long, more serious swimmers, you'll want to take a dip at Sandford Parks Lido. Similarly to most of the other British lidos, it was built in the 1930s and recently renovated, offering a main pool, a children's pool and a paddling pool. It's grade II listed, heated and, of course, located in the scenic Sandford Parks, which offers entertainment in and of itself.
Bristol Lido
Where? Bristol
Best for? Total relaxation
You can tell that this is not your average lido; from its glass-front, to restored Victorian building, to the restaurant awaiting you for your post-swim grub. It's more spa than open air pool, if you're being fussy: with hot tub, steam room and sauna on site too, you have to buy a day spa package or be a member to access. But it's well worth it for a little relaxation.
Thermae Bath Spa
Where? Bath
Best for? Swimming with a splash of minerals, to boot
Did you know? Thermae Bath Spa is Britain's original thermal spa, located in (yep, you guessed it) Bath. A renovation saw the historic 18th-century spa updated with touches of contemporary back in 2006 and, since then, it's become one of Bath's most popular outdoor pools.
It boasts a spectacular bird's eye view of the city below you: float in the warm thermal waters and submerge yourself in 10,000 year old water, fresh from one of Bath's three springs. For the wellness warriors among you, you'll want to know that the water holds over 42 minerals. Oh yes.
Portishead Lido
Where? Portishead
Best for? Fun swimming events
Warm water open air swimming in yet another pool that looks like it stepped straight out of a Wes Anderson movie? Yep, we're sold. Keen to try a swim that's a little different? They offer cold water dips throughout the winter, full moon swims and a dogs and owners session once a year, too.
Lymington Sea Water Baths
Where? Lymington, Hampshire
Best for? A fun day out for the entire family
Parents with kids bored of staying in, this one is for you. Lymington Open Air Sea Baths is a child's heaven, packed with all the inflatable toys you could ever need. If that weren't enough, the open-air lido, which was originally built in 1833, is the oldest lido in the United Kingdom.
Outdoor Pools, In and Near London
Thames Lido
Where? Reading
Best for? Lido luxury
Currently open only to members, Thames Lido is reopening to the public when COVID restrictions are fully eased. Pre-2019, the lido underwent a hefty £3.5 million pound refurbishment, after sitting untouched for over 40 years.
Head for a lido that's a delightful smorgasbord of interior styles, carefully mixing the original design with some new 20th-century quirk, too.
London Fields Lido
Where? London
Best for? Outdoor fun for even the most central of Londoners
A lovely little lido in central London and, coincidently, one of Hackney's greatest success stories. Local campaigners fought hard for its reopening in 2006 and, much to their delight, have seen more than a quarter of a million visitors swimming annually since.
Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds
Where? Hampstead, North London
Best for? Outdoor adventure, swim style
Ok, so technically not a pool, but a pond. You can take a dip in the ponds of London's famous Hampstead Heath during the winter months but you'll need to be a part of the Hampstead Heath Winter Swimming Club to do so. Surrounded by fields for you to picnic/clutch a hot chocolate in after your dip, it's a must-try if you live nearby.
Beckenham Place Park Swimming Lake
Where? Lewisham, London
Best for? Escapism within reaching distance of London
London's first purpose-built swimming lake is quite something: at 285-metres-long and after a £4.9 million makeover, it really is a beautiful addition to an already stunning green space. Pack your goggles, swimsuit and swimming cap and get down early—as above, it gets busy.
You might think it'd be pricey to enter, but the current price is only £5. Bargain.
Saltdean Lido
Where? Brighton
Best for? A dip by the coast
Since opening in the 1930's, Saltdean has been a popular British swimming spot with both outdoor and indoor pools on offer. Architecture fan?
You'll love the Hollywood Modernist design. Serious swimmer? It's normally a good level of not-too-busy. Sucker for a bit of Brighton rock? You're at the right lido.
Pells Pool
Where? Lewes, East Sussex
Best for? Cold water swimming
As the oldest documented freshwater outdoor public swimming pool in the United Kingdom, Pells has something of a reputation in the outdoor swimming world. Not only that, but it's located in the charming town of Lewes in East Sussex. They celebrated their 150th anniversary in 2011 and have continued to welcome thousands of visitors to their pool every year since. Be warned: it's unheated, but well worth the cold.
Alice Head Nutrition & Health Contributor Ally is a contributing food journalist with over four years digital experience, plus a freelance food stylist, having worked backstage at many a BBC Good Food Show.
Morgan Fargo Morgan is WH's digital fitness writer with a penchant for brutal HIIT classes and thick post-workout smoothies.
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Small Outdoor Bathroom For Pool
Source: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/fitness/fitness-holidays/g32877161/outdoor-pools-near-me/
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