Britain’s Best Outdoor Pools To Know This Summer

There’s nothing quite like that first refreshing dip in the hotel’s swimming pool as soon as you’ve landed off the plane and checked in. If you aren’t taking a trip until later this summer, we’ve looked at the next best thing and rounded up the best UK lidos for a dip. 

 From the UK’s largest seawater lido in Penzance to Saltdean’s crescent-shaped art deco pool, we’ve rounded up eight of our favourites to add to your outdoor pool wish list. 

UK lidos worth visiting this summer

Jubilee Pool, Cornwall

Of course, Cornwall’s Jubilee Pool was going to make an appearance. It’s the UK’s largest art deco seawater lido after all. Located in Penzance, the pool is geothermally heated, meaning you can dive straight in without having to get in tepidly. Shaped like a triangle, the outdoor pool reaches 98 metres in length at its longest side and 56 metres in width at its widest. Plus, it can hold up to 600 swimmers at one time. Enjoy a pint of craft beer, lunch, or ice cream between laps at the Jubilee Pool Café & Bar, serving bites made with fresh ingredients daily.

www.jubileepool.co.uk
Jubilee Pool, Battery Road, Penzance, TR18 4FF

Check out the Saltdean Lido Heritage Hub to learn more about its more than seven decades of history, from its role in Saltdean’s 1930’s Holiday Village to its part in WWII. Before you visit, check the Saltdean Lido Instagram for different events each season, from the Mid-Summer Ball, to bingo and an Afternoon Tea Dance.

www.saltdeanlido.org 
Saltdean Park Road, Saltdean, Brighton, BN2 8SP

Tinside Lido, Plymouth

Plymouth, the port city on the border of Devon and Cornwall, is home to the UK’s best seaside lido. Dating back to 1935, it’s now a Grade II-listed building and is famed for its Art Deco design. 

Built overlooking the turquoise sea, Tinside Lido is filled with salt water, which is just as well as Plymouth doesn’t have a sandy beach along the shore. Whether you’re after a splash or just fancy topping up your tan on the sunbathing terrace, it’s the perfect place to while away your summer afternoons.

plymouthactive.com
Hoe Road, Plymouth PL1 3DE

Droitwich Spa Lido, Worcestershire

Worcestershire’s Droitwich Spa Lido first opened in 1935, offering locals a space to cool down and splash about come summertime. The lido closed its doors in 2000 but finally reopened in 2007 after much campaigning, with an extensively refurbished pool. The water still boasts benefits from the natural brine feed, making it the same density as seawater, and the original 1930s fascia is still in place. 

The open-air pool is popular with families, locals and visitors alike, and is heated! So you don’t have to worry about freezing if the weather takes a drastic cooler turn. The pool is surrounded by terraces and an on-site café where you can treat yourself to a scoop of ice cream or an iced coffee.

droitwichspa.co.uk
Worcester Road, Droitwich, Worcestershire, WR9 8AA

www.arundel-lido.com
Queen Street, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9JG

Bristol Lido, Bristol

While you’re down visiting family and friends in Bristol this summer, make a pit stop at their lido for an afternoon packed with fun. The pool itself is 24 metres in length and is heated to around 22-25 degrees all year round. The chlorine level is kept as low as possible. Plus, enjoy bespoke Lido Spa products in every shower cubicle. On-site, there’s also a host of spa activities, from saunas and steam rooms to hot tubs. 

www.lidobristol.com
Oakfield Place, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2BJ