20 of the best outdoor swimming pools and lidos in the UK

16. Gourock Swimming Pool, Renfrewshire

Unlike many UK pools, this Scottish saltwater option has diving boards. The River Clyde flows past the pool, offering spectacular views for swimmers. The oldest heated outdoor swimming pool in Scotland, which opened in 1909, underwent a recent £1.8million refurbishment project and now also has its own gym and improved accessibility.

Albert Rd, Gourock; inverclydeleisure.com

17. Droitwich Spa Lido, Worcestershire

Another modernized spa from the 1930’s, this one offers plenty of space (40 meter pool), a children’s wet play area, sun terraces and a lido café. The center of the saltwater pool has recently undergone repairs and the summer season is in full swing.

Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre, Briar Mill; wychavonleisure.co.uk

18. Thames Lido, Reading

The long closed King’s Meadow swimming pool in Reading reopened as the Thames Lido five years ago. An open-air swimming pool has stood on the site since 1860, and in 1879 local authorities built the largest pool in southern England, a whopping 79 meters long but for men only, using water from the nearby Thames. A women’s pool was added in 1902. Designed to guarantee Edwardian ladies complete privacy, it is surrounded by a beautiful building and it is this pool that survives to this day.

In addition to the 25-meter pool, which is heated to 21°C to 25°C, visitors will find a 120-seat restaurant, a public bar and a spa, which is normally open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. However, using the pool is quite expensive with entry prices around £20. Still, the high price allows access to one of the most luxurious beach resorts in the country.

Napier Road, Reading; thameslido.com