UK Open-Air Lidos: A Region-by-Region Directory (2026)

More than 100 open-air lidos and outdoor swimming pools are still operating across Britain today, and this region-by-region directory covers 56 of the best. Most are heated; the rest are unheated freshwater, seawater or tidal pools, and a handful — Bude Sea Pool in Cornwall and Clevedon Marine Lake among them — are free to swim in. The seasonal ones open from late May to early September, but at least 27 now stay open all year, and fourteen have saunas. Winter swimming has quietly turned the lido from a summer treat into a twelve-month habit.

Britain fell in love with the lido in the 1920s and 30s, when hundreds of open-air pools were built as democratic “palaces of the people”. Most were lost in the 1980s and 90s, but the last two decades have brought a striking revival — grassroots campaigns, lottery money and organisations such as Historic Pools of Britain have rescued and reopened Art Deco gems from Saltdean to Stonehaven. This is our region-by-region directory of the UK’s currently-operating open-air lidos and outdoor pools — heated and unheated, freshwater and sea — with a note on which suit families best.

Jump to your region: London · South East England · South West England · East of England · The Midlands · Yorkshire & the Humber · North East England · North West England · Wales · Scotland · Northern Ireland

London

The capital has the densest cluster of lidos in the country, from Art Deco classics to a brand-new floating pool.

Lido	Where	Water & heating	Notes
Sea Lanes Canary Wharf	Eden Dock, Canary Wharf	Natural water · unheated	New for June 2026 — London’s first floating 50m, six-lane pool, with saunas
London Fields Lido	Hackney	Freshwater · heated · year-round	50m Olympic-length; the most family-friendly heated inner-London pool
Hampton Pool	Hampton	Freshwater · heated · year-round	Open outdoors all winter; long-standing family favourite
Charlton Lido	Charlton	Freshwater · heated · year-round	50m heated pool with a poolside gym and café
Oasis	Covent Garden	Freshwater · heated · year-round	A heated rooftop outdoor pool in the heart of town
Tooting Bec Lido	Tooting	Freshwater · unheated	100 yards (about 91m) — the UK’s largest freshwater pool by surface area; famous painted changing-room doors
Brockwell Lido	Herne Hill	Freshwater · unheated	Iconic 1937 Art Deco 50m pool; classic lido culture
Parliament Hill Lido	Hampstead Heath	Freshwater · unheated	1938 pool with a distinctive stainless-steel lining
Serpentine Lido	Hyde Park	Natural lake water · unheated · seasonal	Historic Royal Parks bathing spot in central London

South East England

Lido	Where	Water & heating	Notes
Saltdean Lido	near Brighton	Freshwater · heated · year-round	Restored Grade II*-listed 1938 Art Deco masterpiece; about 25°C in summer, 19°C in the October–April winter season
Hilsea Lido	Portsmouth	Freshwater · unheated · year-round	Reopened May 2026 after a £7.75m restoration; 67m and unheated, with a 16+ poolside sauna
Petersfield Lido	Petersfield	Freshwater · heated · year-round	Charity-run and heated all year — 26°C April–September, 18°C and over-16s only in winter; wood-fired sauna and cold plunge
Aldershot Lido	Aldershot	Freshwater · unheated	Large lido with children’s pools and big lawns
Guildford Lido	Guildford	Freshwater · heated	1930s 50m pool with extensive family facilities
Arundel Lido	Arundel	Freshwater · heated	Heated pools with family and splash areas, in the South Downs
Pells Pool	Lewes	Freshwater · unheated	Opened 1860 — the oldest documented freshwater outdoor pool in England; spring-fed
Wycombe Rye Lido	High Wycombe	Freshwater · heated	Restored community lido in The Rye parkland
Northcroft Lido	Newbury	Freshwater · heated	A long 50m heated council lido, refurbished 2023, in a riverside park

South West England

The richest region in the country for characterful open-air swimming.

Lido	Where	Water & heating	Notes
Cheltenham Lido (formerly Sandford Parks)	Cheltenham	Freshwater · heated	1935 heated 50m pool with children’s pools and lawns; great for families
Cirencester Open Air Pool	Cirencester	Freshwater · heated	Historic spring-fed pool, volunteer-run; open spring to autumn
Jubilee Pool	Penzance	Seawater · unheated (+ geothermal section)	1935 Art Deco seafront triangle; the UK’s only geothermally heated pool
Tinside Lido	Plymouth Hoe	Seawater · unheated	Semi-circular 1935 Art Deco Grade II pool; spectacular but cold
Shoalstone Pool	Brixham	Seawater · unheated	Tidal seawater pool by the sea; volunteer-run, donation entry
Bude Sea Pool	Bude	Natural seawater · unheated	A free tidal pool below the cliffs; sheltered and brilliant for families
Clevedon Marine Lake	Clevedon	Natural seawater · unheated	A free tidal saltwater lake for dips and paddling
Portishead Open Air Pool	Portishead	Freshwater · heated (solar-assisted)	Community-run 1962 pool; family-friendly
Bristol Lido	Clifton, Bristol	Freshwater · heated	Restored 1849 Victorian lido with spa and restaurant (more adult-oriented)
Chagford Swimming Pool	Chagford, Dartmoor	Freshwater · heated	Spring- and river-fed heated community pool on the edge of Dartmoor

East of England

Home to Beccles — Suffolk’s only outdoor lido — plus strong Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire options.

Lido	Where	Water & heating	Notes
Beccles Lido	Beccles, Suffolk	Freshwater · heated · year-round	Suffolk’s only outdoor lido, on the River Waveney; slides and family facilities, winter lane swims and a 16+ sauna
Jesus Green Lido	Cambridge	Freshwater · unheated · year-round	About 91m (100 yards) — one of the longest pools in Europe; open all year for cold-water swimming, with a 16+ sauna
Peterborough Lido	Peterborough	Freshwater · heated	1936 Art Deco heated lido
Letchworth Lido	Letchworth	Freshwater · heated	Large 50m heated lido, reopened for summer 2026
Hitchin Outdoor Pool	Hitchin	Freshwater · heated	Outdoor pool at Hitchin Swimming Centre, reopened summer 2026

The Midlands

Lido	Where	Water & heating	Notes
Droitwich Spa Lido	Droitwich	Brine/saltwater · heated	A rare heated open-air brine pool; family-friendly
Hathersage Swimming Pool	Hathersage, Peak District	Freshwater · heated (solar-assisted)	Scenic 30m pool in a lovely setting
Jubilee Park	Woodhall Spa	Freshwater · heated	Heated open-air pool in a family park with gardens and camping
Bourne Outdoor Swimming Pool	Bourne, Lincolnshire	Freshwater · heated	One of the UK’s largest heated open-air pools; volunteer-run, open roughly May to September
Metheringham Swimming Pool	Metheringham, Lincolnshire	Freshwater · heated	Community-run open-air pool heated to around 30°C, open mid-May to September

Yorkshire & the Humber

Lido	Where	Water & heating	Notes
Ingleton Open Air Pool	Ingleton	Freshwater · heated	Community pool in a scenic Dales setting
Helmsley Open Air Pool	Helmsley	Freshwater · heated	Volunteer-run and very family-friendly
Ilkley Pool and Lido	Ilkley	Freshwater · unheated (lido)	Iconic 1930s circular lido; a separate heated indoor pool is on site

North East England

Honestly, the North East has essentially no traditional operating lido in 2026. Its landmark, Tynemouth Outdoor Pool, is currently closed and derelict — the subject of an active campaign to rebuild it as a modern heated pool. One to watch, but not yet swimmable; for now, open-air swimming here means the coast and inland lakes.

North West England

The North West is thin on heritage lidos, but it has one gem still swimming.

Lido	Where	Water & heating	Notes
Nantwich Outdoor Brine Pool	Nantwich, Cheshire	Brine/saltwater · heated	A rare heated 1930s inland brine pool; opens from April, family-friendly

Cumbria’s Grade II-listed Grange-over-Sands Lido remains closed, undergoing a multi-million-pound restoration — one to watch, but not yet reopened as a pool.

Wales

Wales has one standout operating heritage lido; most other open-air swimming here is coastal and tidal rather than a formal heated lido.

Lido	Where	Water & heating	Notes
Lido Ponty (National Lido of Wales)	Pontypridd	Freshwater · heated	A beautifully restored 1927 lido (reopened 2015) with three pools, including a children’s splash pool — superb for families

Scotland

Lido	Where	Water & heating	Notes
Stonehaven Open Air Pool	Stonehaven	Seawater · heated	1934 Art Deco Olympic-size (50yd) pool; famous for its midnight swims
Gourock Outdoor Pool	Gourock	Seawater · heated	A heated seawater pool over the Firth of Clyde; one of Scotland’s oldest

Northern Ireland

There is no significant operating public outdoor lido or open-air heated pool in Northern Ireland in 2026. Historic seaside pools such as Portrush’s have long closed, so open-air swimming here means the coast, the loughs and hotel or leisure facilities rather than a heritage lido.

Lidos open all year

The idea that lidos are a summer-only pleasure is now well out of date. Cold-water swimming has transformed the winter economics of these pools, and a good number stay open right through — some heated to a comfortable 25°C, others deliberately left cold for the swimmers who want them that way. At least 27 UK lidos now swim through the winter, and they are no longer only in London.

Three things worth knowing before you go. Many winter sessions are adults-only — Woburn, Shaftesbury and the New Bath Hotel are over-18s, and Lido Ponty, Petersfield and Droitwich are over-16s. Almost all require booking in advance, often days ahead. And winter timetables are usually published in the autumn, so the dates below describe each pool’s normal pattern rather than confirmed 2026/27 dates.

Lido	Where	Winter water	Notes
London Fields Lido	Hackney, London	Heated · 24°C	50m and floodlit, heated to 24°C right through the winter
Charlton Lido	Greenwich, London	Heated · 22°C	Olympic-size 50m pool; the operator’s own figure is a cooler 22°C
Oasis	Covent Garden, London	Heated · about 25°C	27.5m rooftop pool with an outdoor sauna overlooking it, included with your swim
Hampton Pool	Hampton, London	Heated	Charity-run and open 365 days a year; Christmas Day swims and Moonlight Swims
Parliament Hill Lido	Hampstead Heath, London	Unheated	60m stainless-steel pool open 365 days; the sauna runs in winter only
Brockwell Lido	Herne Hill, London	Unheated	50m Art Deco pool open all year; juniors only when the water is 15°C or above
Park Road Lido	Hornsey, London	Heated	One of London’s largest heated lidos at 50m by 23m, open all year in daylight hours
Pools on the Park	Richmond, London	Heated · 25°C	33m heated outdoor pool in Old Deer Park, floodlit after dark
Saltdean Lido	near Brighton, East Sussex	Heated · 19°C in winter	Winter season October–April; sauna and cold plunge alongside
Sea Lanes Brighton	Brighton, East Sussex	Heated · minimum 19°C	50m six-lane beachfront pool — chlorinated, not seawater — open all year
Thames Lido	Reading, Berkshire	Heated	Restored 1902 ladies’ pool, heated all year, with sauna, steam room and hot tub
Chesham Moor	Chesham, Buckinghamshire	Heated · about 27°C	Spring-fed 25m pool open all year bar Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
Faversham Pools	Faversham, Kent	Heated	33m lido open April–October, then adults-only Sunset Swims through the winter
Arundel Lido	Arundel, West Sussex	Heated Apr–Sep, cold Oct–Mar	Heated to 28°C in season; cold-water season October–March, plus festive swims
Ware Priory Lido	Ware, Hertfordshire	Heated 27°C in summer, cold in winter	30m pool with a cold-water season running roughly October to April
Woburn Lido	Woburn, Bedfordshire	Heated 26°C in summer, cold in winter	Summer season late May–September; cold-water swimming October–May, over-18s only
Hilsea Lido	Portsmouth, Hampshire	Unheated	Reopened May 2026 after a £7.75m restoration; 67m, open all year, 16+ sauna
Petersfield Lido	Petersfield, Hampshire	Heated all year	26°C April–September, 18°C and over-16s only in winter; wood-fired sauna
Jesus Green Lido	Cambridge	Unheated	About 91m and never heated — a serious year-round cold-water pool, with a sauna
Beccles Lido	Beccles, Suffolk	Heated 28°C in summer	Suffolk’s only lido; winter lane swims are separately ticketed
Lido Bristol	Clifton, Bristol	Heated · 20–24°C	24m Victorian pool heated all year, with sauna, steam room and hot tub
Portishead Open Air Pool	Portishead, Somerset	Heated Apr–Oct, cold Oct–Mar	33m solar and biomass-heated pool; cold-water weekends in winter, reheated for Christmas
Shaftesbury Lido	Shaftesbury, Dorset	Heated 29°C in summer, cold in winter	Cold-water swimming October–April, Wednesdays and Saturdays, over-18s only
Droitwich Spa Lido	Droitwich, Worcestershire	Heated in summer, cold in winter	Rare open-air brine pool; cold-water sessions typically mid-September to mid-May
Hathersage Swimming Pool	Hathersage, Peak District	Heated	Runs a separate November–March winter timetable; poolside sauna returns in October
New Bath Hotel Lido	Matlock Bath, Derbyshire	Spring-fed · naturally 19.8°C	Chlorine-free geothermal spring pool, open all year — over-18s only, pre-booked
Wycombe Rye Lido	High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire	Heated	33m heated lido listed as open all year — see the note below on its operator

Two pools run a winter season with a gap rather than true year-round opening. Lido Ponty in Pontypridd holds weekend cold-water swims at around 14–15°C, typically from late January to early March, for over-16s only, then closes briefly before the main season opens at Easter. Buckfastleigh in Devon runs a heated summer from May to early September and cold-water swimming from September to February, but does not open between February and May.

One caution on Wycombe Rye: its operator, Fusion Lifestyle, entered administration on 1 April 2026 and the pool’s future operator was still being resolved as this guide was updated. Check before travelling.

Lidos with saunas

The sauna has become the natural companion to the cold-water swim, and a good number of lidos have added one — some a proper wood-fired cabin, others a container or an indoor health suite. A pattern worth knowing before you plan a family day: almost every lido sauna in Britain is over-16s or over-18s only, and most are an extra ticket on top of your swim rather than included.

Lido	Where	Sauna	Cost and rules
Oasis	Covent Garden, London	Outdoor, poolside	Included with your swim during sauna hours — the best value sauna on this list
Parliament Hill Lido	Hampstead Heath, London	Winter only	Over-18s. Extra ticket, sold in person in the 15 minutes before each session, 30 places, first come first served
Park Road Lido	Hornsey, London	Indoor health suite	Sauna and steam room booked in hour slots, over-16s — indoors, not poolside
Saltdean Lido	near Brighton	Year-round, with cold plunge	Run as a concession by an outside operator, so hours can differ from the pool’s
Pells Pool	Lewes, East Sussex	Season only, with cold plunge	£4 for 30 minutes, over-16s, and you must buy a swim to book it
Hilsea Lido	Portsmouth	Poolside, seats 16	£8, or £12 with a swim; over-16s, and initially bookable only alongside a swim
Petersfield Lido	Petersfield, Hampshire	Wood-fired, with cold plunge	Over-16s only
Thames Lido	Reading, Berkshire	Scandinavian, about 85°C	With steam room and hot tub; adults only, sold as a two-hour session from £25
Lido Bristol	Clifton, Bristol	Sauna, steam room and hot tub	Adults only — children swim in the 2–4pm slot but cannot use the spa
Jubilee Pool	Penzance, Cornwall	Seasonal	£6.50 for 30 minutes, over-16s — and unusually, you can book it without a swim
Cheltenham Lido	Cheltenham, Gloucestershire	Shoulder season only	A ‘Nordic Experience’ with ice baths, run by an outside operator; open March–May and September–October, not high summer
Hathersage Swimming Pool	Hathersage, Peak District	Poolside, winter season	Closed for the summer, returning in October — pricing published nearer the time
Jesus Green Lido	Cambridge	Poolside	Wristband bought at reception, over-16s; a swim-and-sauna ticket is the cheaper route
Beccles Lido	Beccles, Suffolk	Poolside	£5 for a shared 30-minute session, strictly over-16s

Worth saying what is not here. Brockwell and Charlton are often listed elsewhere as having outdoor saunas; neither operator advertises one on its own site, so we have left them out until that changes. Droitwich Spa Lido has no sauna either — the sauna belongs to the separate leisure centre up the road.

Tips for a great lido day

• Book ahead on hot days. The popular lidos move to timed sessions and sell out in heatwaves — buy online the night before rather than turning up on spec.
• Arrive early. The first session of the day is the calmest and coolest, and parking is far easier before mid-morning.
• Pack a base camp. Towels, a windbreak or shade, refillable water, a picnic (many lidos allow food on the lawns), sun cream and a £1 coin or card for lockers.
• Know your temperatures. Heated lidos sit around 26–28°C; unheated and seawater pools can be bracing even in a heatwave, so check the posted water temperature and pack a swim cap or neoprene for the cold ones.

Lido FAQs

What is a lido?

A lido is an outdoor public swimming pool, usually with sunbathing terraces or lawns around it. The word (from the Italian for “beach”) entered British use in the 1920s and 30s, when hundreds were built as open-air “palaces of the people”. Today it covers everything from Art Deco freshwater pools to natural seawater tidal pools.

Which UK lidos are heated?

Plenty are. Heated options include London Fields, Hampton, Charlton and Oasis in London; Saltdean, Hilsea, Petersfield, Guildford, Arundel and Wycombe Rye in the South East; Sandford Parks, Cirencester, Portishead and Bristol Lido in the South West; Beccles and Peterborough in the East; Droitwich, Hathersage and Woodhall Spa in the Midlands; Ingleton and Helmsley in Yorkshire; Lido Ponty in Wales; and Stonehaven and Gourock in Scotland. Heated pools usually sit around 26–28°C.

Are UK lidos open all year?

Far more than most people think. At least 27 do, and they are no longer only in London. Some stay heated — London Fields at 24°C, Pools on the Park at 25°C, Chesham Moor at 27°C — while others deliberately run cold for winter swimmers, including Parliament Hill, Brockwell, Jesus Green and Hilsea. A third group switches between the two, heated through the summer and cold from autumn: Portishead, Arundel, Shaftesbury, Droitwich and Woburn all work this way. Most lidos are still seasonal, opening roughly from late May to early September, and winter sessions are very often adults-only and must be booked ahead. Always check the pool’s own website for current dates.

Are lidos heated or cold — what should I expect?

It varies hugely. “Heated” pools are a comfortable 26–28°C. Unheated and seawater or natural pools — such as Tooting Bec, Brockwell, Jesus Green, Pells Pool, Tinside, Bude Sea Pool and the Serpentine — can be genuinely cold even in July: great for confident swimmers, bracing for little ones. Check the pool’s posted water temperature before you go.

Are lidos family- and child-friendly?

Many are excellent for families, especially heated pools with separate children’s or splash pools such as Lido Ponty, Sandford Parks, Beccles, Arundel, Droitwich and Petersfield. Cold, deep pools like Tooting Bec or the Serpentine suit older children and adults better. Most lidos have grassy areas, cafés and changing facilities.

Do I need to book a lido in advance?

Increasingly, yes — especially on hot weekends. Popular lidos such as Brockwell, Tooting Bec, Saltdean and Sandford Parks often switch to timed entry sessions and sell out in heatwaves. Book online the day before where you can, rather than turning up on spec.

What’s the cheapest way to swim outdoors?

The free options are natural tidal pools and lakes — Bude Sea Pool, Clevedon Marine Lake and Shoalstone Pool cost nothing to use (donations welcome). Council lidos are usually cheap, and many offer family tickets, off-peak rates and season passes that work out far cheaper than one-off entry.

What should I bring for a lido day?

Towels, sun cream, a windbreak or shade, refillable water, and snacks or a picnic (many lidos allow food on the lawns), plus a £1 coin or card for lockers. For unheated pools, older children and adults may appreciate a swim cap, and neoprene helps in cold seawater pools.

How many lidos are there in the UK?

There’s no official national register, so figures vary. Of the 169 lidos built across Britain at the 1930s peak, an estimated 100-plus open-air pools are still operating today — one widely-cited figure puts the number still open in England alone at around 127. This directory lists more than 40 of the best currently-operating lidos, region by region.

Which UK lidos have a sauna?

At least fourteen, including Parliament Hill and the Oasis in London, Saltdean, Pells Pool, Hilsea, Petersfield, Thames Lido in Reading, Lido Bristol, Jubilee Pool in Penzance, Cheltenham Lido, Hathersage, Jesus Green in Cambridge and Beccles. The Oasis is the pick for value — its outdoor sauna is included with your swim. Nearly all the others charge separately, and almost every lido sauna in Britain is restricted to over-16s or over-18s, so they are not part of a family swim.

What is the biggest lido in the UK?

Tooting Bec Lido in south London is the UK’s largest freshwater pool by surface area, at 100 yards (about 91 metres) long. Cambridge’s Jesus Green Lido is a similar length and among the longest in Europe, while Saltdean and Sandford Parks are two of the best-loved 50-metre Art Deco pools.

Are there any lidos in Essex?

Essex has no major traditional heated lido still operating. The nearest open-air swimming is usually London’s cluster — Tooting Bec, Brockwell and London Fields — or the East of England pools in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, such as Jesus Green in Cambridge.

Related guides

• August bank holiday 2026: family days out across the UK — where a lido day fits into the last long weekend of summer.
• Felbrigg Hall family day out — pair a North Norfolk day with a dip at Beccles.

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