This is an annotated list of swimming pools in the United Kingdom which conform to the Olympic standard. Additionally, it lists other long-course facilities that do not quite come up to the full standard of 50 × 25 metres, 10 (middle 8 used) lanes.

At the start of the 21st century, the provision of 50-metre swimming pools in the United Kingdom was very poor for a developed country. Few universities possessed 50-metre pools, and there was a marked reluctance on the part of municipal authorities to build new public long-course facilities. However, the successful bid to hold the 2012 Summer Olympics in London added impetus to the development of new pools. A number of new venues were completed before and after the Games, although some existing pools were demolished and not replaced by 50-metre facilities.

As of 2022, no university in the UK possesses an Olympic standard pool, though several have an 8-lane 50-metre pool. The Aberdeen Aquatics Centre, being part funded by the University of Aberdeen, is the main pool facility for the university.

Olympic size pools

Location Pool/centre name Pool dimensions Opened Further information
Length Width (lanes)
Aberdeen Aberdeen Aquatics Centre 50 m 25 m (10) 2014 Opened 5 May 2014 as part of the Aberdeen Sports Village complex.[1]
Bangor, County Down Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex[2] 50 m 25 m (10) 2013 Plus a 7 lane (15m?) x 25m diving pool at the end of the main pool.
Bristol Hengrove Park Leisure Centre 50 m 25 m (10)[3] 2012 Opened 29 February 2012.[4]
Cardiff Cardiff International Pool[5] 50 m 25 m (10) 2008 Part of the Cardiff International Sports Village. Opened 12 January 2008.[6]
Derby Moorways Sports Village 50m 25m (10) 2022
Glasgow Tollcross International Swimming Centre[5] 50 m 25 m (10) 1997,

2013

The pool was reopened on 24 May 2013 after refurbishment. Second 50 m pool was added for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
50 m 15 m (6)
Leeds John Charles Centre for Sport 50 m 25 m (10) 2007 Formerly South Leeds Stadium.
London London Aquatics Centre 50 m 25 m (10) 2011 Venue for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Includes 25 x 25 m diving pool adjacent to main competition pool.
50 m 20 m (8)
Plymouth Plymouth Life Centre[7] 50 m 25 m (10) 2012 Part of the new £46.5m Life Centre. Opened in March 2012.[8]
Sandwell Sandwell Aquatics Centre 50 m 25 m (10) 2022 Venue for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, at Londonderry Playing Fields, Smethwick.[9]
Sheffield Ponds Forge International Sports Centre[10] 50 m 25 m (10) 1991 Used for a large number of English and British National events
Sunderland Sunderland Aquatic Centre[11] 50 m 25 m (10) 2008 Opened 18 April 2008.[12]

Planned or under construction

Location Pool/centre name Pool dimensions Further information
Length Width (lanes)
Cambridge Cambridge Sports Centre 50 m 25 m (10) Planned for Phase 3 of the new sports centre (currently at Phase 1) for the University of Cambridge on the West Cambridge Site.[13]

Other 50 metre pools

Location Pool/centre name Pool dimensions Further information
Length Width (lanes)
Aldershot Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre 50 m 18 m (8) This is a British Army swimming pool, but it is open to the public at certain times.[14]
Banbury Woodgreen Leisure Centre[15] 50 m (8) Heated open air pool.
Basildon Basildon Sporting Village 50 m (8)[16] Constructed by Basildon District Council in time to support the 2012 London Olympics.[17]
Bath University of Bath Sports Training Village[18] 50 m (8)
Bourne Bourne Lido[19] 50 yd (8)
Birmingham University of Birmingham Sports Centre 50 m 17 m As part of new University Sports Centre.[20]
Cheltenham Sandford Parks Lido 50 m 27 m (10) Heated open air pool, open seasonally between March and October.[21]
Corby, Northamptonshire Corby East Midlands International Swimming Pool[22] 50 m (8) Opened July 2009.
Coventry The Alan Higgs Centre[23] 50 m (8) Built to replace the previous 50m pool at Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre which was closed in February 2020
Crawley K2 Crawley[24] 50 m (8)
Dagenham Becontree Heath Leisure Centre 50 m (4) Built in addition to current 10 lane 25m pool, which opened late 2018 [25] The 50m pool is now open for public swimming on weekday mornings and at weekends.
Dundee Olympia[26] 50 m (6)
East Kilbride The Dollan Aqua Centre 50 m (6) Recently refurbished, reopened May 28, 2011.[27]
Edinburgh Royal Commonwealth Pool 50 m 21 m (8) Built for the 1970 British Commonwealth Games. Refurbished 2012.[28]
Guildford Guildford Lido 50 m 27.4 m (10) An outdoor pool that is open during the summer months only.[29]
Guildford Surrey Sports Park 50 m 20 m (8) Part of the University of Surrey.[30]
High Wycombe Wycombe Leisure Centre 50 m (8) Opened Jan 2016 Replacing Wycombe Sports Centre. 8 Lane pool 50m Competition Pool with 4 Lane 20m Community Pool
Hillingdon Hillingdon Sports & Leisure Centre[31] 50 m 20 m (8) The new indoor pool adjacent to a refurbished Uxbridge Lido, opened on 23 March 2010.[32]
Hitchin Hitchin Swimming Centre[33] 50 m Hitchin Swimming Centre sports indoor and outdoor pools. Outdoor pool opens between May–September
Letchworth Letchworth Outdoor Pool[34] 50 m Open between May–September
Liverpool Liverpool Aquatics Centre[35] 50 m (8)
London Borough of Ealing Gurnell Leisure Centre[36] 50 m (8) The centre has been permanently closed
London Brockwell Lido 50m
London Charlton Lido[37] 50 m (4) Lido, Re-opened in 2013; closed from Nov 2013 until April 2014 for refurbishment.
London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre[38] 50 m (8) The Olympic pool has been closed for a while. The 25m training pool is available
London London Fields Lido[39] 50 m 17 m (8) Lido, opened in 1932, closed in 1988, and re-opened in 2006.
London Park Road Lido[40] 50 m 23 m Lido, opened in 1929, significant restoration and redevelopment in 2014/15.[41]
Loughborough English Institute of Sport 50 m 20 m (8) Based at Loughborough University.[42]
Luton Inspire: Luton Sports Village 50 m (8) A 50m, eight lane pool, a diving training centre and a 20m x 10m community pool.[43]
Manchester Manchester Aquatics Centre 50 m 20 m (8) Built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
50 m 8 m (4)
Norwich Sportspark[44] 50 m 17 m (8) Part of the University of East Anglia.
Nottingham Speedo Sports Centre at the Harvey Hadden Sports Village 50 m 21 m (8) Completed in Summer 2015.
Peterborough Peterborough Lido[45] 50 m 18.5 m (8) Open air heated lido. Open from end of May to September.
Portsmouth Mountbatten Centre[46] 50 m 17 m (8)
Stirling National Swimming Academy 50 m (6) Part of the University of Stirling.[47]
Stockport Grand Central Pools 50 m (8)
Street, Somerset Millfield School 50 m (8) School's private pool, only open to staff and students.
Stonehaven Open Air Pool Aberdeenshire Council 50 m (8) Council run public pool, only open June to September.
Swansea Wales National Pool[48] 50 m 21 m (8) Part of the Swansea University.
Tavistock Mount Kelly Swim Centre[49] 50 m 16 m (8) Part of Mount Kelly School and funded by Sport England. A 50m long, 8 lane indoor pool, which is open to the community, swimming clubs and pupils of the school. Opened in September 2016.
Winchester Winchester Sport & Leisure Park 50 m (8) Operated by EveryoneActive for Winchester City Council. Opened in May 2021.[50]

Planned or under construction/refurbishment

Location Pool/centre name Pool dimensions Further information
Length Width (lanes)
Redbridge, London 50 m Architects appointed for new 50 m pool.[51]
Brighton and Hove Sea Lanes Brighton 50 m Planning permission approved for new open air heated pool. ETA Autumn 2022.[52]

Other notable long-course pools

Open

Closed

See also

References

  1. ^ "North East & Tayside".
  2. ^ Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex
  3. ^ "Hengrove Park Leisure Centre". Bristol City Council. Archived from the original on 8 May 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  4. ^ "New Olympic-standard pool at Hengrove Park Leisure Centre looks to make a big splash". Bristol Evening Post. 29 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2013-03-23. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
  5. ^ a b "Tollcross Park Leisure Centre". Glasgow City Council.
  6. ^ "£32m world-class pool is opened". BBC News. 2008-01-12. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  7. ^ "Plymouth Life Centre". Everyone Active. Archived from the original on 2012-05-12. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
  8. ^ "Plymouth City Council Life Centre". Plymouth City Council. Archived from the original on 2011-12-30. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  9. ^ "Commonwealth swim centre site revealed". BBC News. 2018-01-23.
  10. ^ "Ponds Forge ISC". Archived from the original on 2006-10-15. Retrieved 2006-03-16.
  11. ^ "Sunderland City Council". Archived from the original on 2008-05-12.
  12. ^ "Celebrations mark 'Olympic' pool". BBC News. 2008-04-17. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  13. ^ "Work under way on Cambridge Sports Centre"., published 1 May 2012, accessed 5 November 2014
  14. ^ "Aspire Defence - Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre". Archived from the original on 2013-06-22. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  15. ^ "Woodgreem / Swimming". Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  16. ^ "BASILDON SPORTING VILLAGE" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  17. ^ "£35m sports complex given backing". BBC News. 12 July 2006. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  18. ^ "Team Bath / Swimming".
  19. ^ "Bourne Lido".
  20. ^ "New Sports Centre". University of Birmingham. 2012-07-30. Archived from the original on 2013-06-23. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  21. ^ "Sandford Parks Lido".
  22. ^ "Corby International Pool".
  23. ^ Hunt, Will. "50m pool at the Alan Higgs Centre now open". www.coventry.gov.uk. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  24. ^ "Crawley Borough Council:: K2 Crawley".
  25. ^ Barking and Dagenham Post: Groundbreaking ceremony takes place for Dagenham's 50m Pool
  26. ^ "The New Olympia". Archived from the original on 2013-06-14.
  27. ^ "South Lanarkshire Leisure - Dollan Aqua Centre".[dead link]
  28. ^ "Edinburgh Leisure - Royal Commonwealth Pool".
  29. ^ "Guildford Spectrum - Guildford Lido Introduction". Archived from the original on 2007-01-02. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  30. ^ "Swimming Pool Surrey Sports Park". Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  31. ^ "Hillingdon Sport & Leisure Centre". Archived from the original on 2013-08-13. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  32. ^ "Olympic-size pool costing £31m opens in Hillingdon". BBC News. 2010-03-23. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  33. ^ "North Hertfordshire District Council - Hitchin Swimming Centre". Archived from the original on 2013-08-28. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  34. ^ "North Hertfordshire District Council - Letchworth Outdoor Pool". Archived from the original on 2013-08-13. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  35. ^ "Liverpool City Council - Liverpool Aquatics Cente". Archived from the original on 2008-03-31. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  36. ^ "Gurnell Leisure Centre".
  37. ^ "Charlton Lido". Archived from the original on 2014-05-06. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  38. ^ "Crystal Palace National Sports Centre".
  39. ^ "London Fields Lido". Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  40. ^ "Park Road Lido".
  41. ^ "Park Road Lido, historicpools.org.uk".
  42. ^ "Loughborough Sport - Loughborough Pool". Retrieved 2013-08-28.[permanent dead link]
  43. ^ Inspire: Luton Sports Village, archived from the original on 2012-12-26, retrieved 2013-08-28
  44. ^ "Sportspark - Swimming". Archived from the original on 2007-01-07. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  45. ^ "Peterborough Lido". Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  46. ^ "Portsmouth Council August News". Archived from the original on 2007-09-21. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  47. ^ "University of Stirling - Sports Facilities". Archived from the original on 2007-04-22. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  48. ^ "Wales National Pool Swansea". Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  49. ^ "Mount Kelly Swim Centre". Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  50. ^ "Winchester Sport and Leisure Park is OPEN". Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  51. ^ Connor, Christina, ed. (2012-07-15). "Olympic Legacy: 50 m pool stock-take". Pool & Spa Scene. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  52. ^ "The National Open Water Swimming Centre®". Sea Lanes Brighton. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  53. ^ Yearsley Swimming Pool
  54. ^ History of Yearsley Pool
  55. ^ Lost Lidos
  56. ^ Broomhill Pool Trust
  57. ^ "Gurnell Leisure Centre redevelopment". Ealing London Borough Council. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  58. ^ "A Brief history of Grange Lido". Save Grange Lido. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  59. ^ "Murton Heritage Society - History of Murton". Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  60. ^ "1961: Murton splashes out". Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  61. ^ "Fears for Cardiff swimming pool". BBC News. 2001-12-13. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
  62. ^ Wigan International Pool (archived wepage)
  63. ^ "Wigan Life Centre". Retrieved 2013-08-28.

External links

Swimming in the United Kingdom
Categories