List of long-course swimming pools in the United Kingdom

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.

, 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

LocationPool/centre namePool dimensionsOpenedFurther informationLengthWidth (lanes)AberdeenAberdeen Aquatics Centre50 m25 m (10)2014Opened 5 May 2014 as part of the Aberdeen Sports Village complex.Bangor, County DownBangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure ComplexBangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex50 m25 m (10)2013Plus a 7 lane (15m?) x 25m diving pool at the end of the main pool.BristolHengrove Park Leisure Centre50 m25 m (10)2012Opened 29 February 2012.CardiffCardiff International Pool50 m25 m (10)2008Part of the Cardiff International Sports Village. Opened 12 January 2008.DerbyMoorways Sports Village50 m25 m (10)2022GlasgowTollcross International Swimming Centre50 m25 m (10)1997, 2013The pool was reopened on 24 May 2013 after refurbishment. Second 50 m pool was added for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.50 m15 m (6)LeedsJohn Charles Centre for Sport50 m25 m (10)2007Formerly South Leeds Stadium.LondonLondon Aquatics Centre50 m25 m (10)2011Venue for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Includes 25 x 25 m diving pool adjacent to main competition pool.50 m20 m (8)PlymouthPlymouth Life Centre50 m25 m (10)2012Part of the new £46.5m Life Centre. Opened in March 2012. SandwellSandwell Aquatics Centre50 m25 m (10)2022Venue for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, at Londonderry Playing Fields, Smethwick.SheffieldPonds Forge International Sports Centre50 m25 m (10)1991Used for a large number of English and British National eventsSunderlandSunderland Aquatic Centre50 m25 m (10)2008Opened 18 April 2008.

Planned or under construction

LocationPool/centre namePool dimensionsFurther informationLengthWidth (lanes)CambridgeCambridge Sports Centre50 m25 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.

Other 50 metre pools

LocationPool/centre namePool dimensionsFurther informationLengthWidth (lanes)AldershotAldershot Garrison Sports Centre50 m18 m (8)This is a British Army swimming pool, but it is open to the public at certain times.BanburyWoodgreen Leisure Centre50 m(8)Heated open air pool.BasildonBasildon Sporting Village50 m(8)Constructed by Basildon District Council in time to support the 2012 London Olympics. Plans for refurbishment finalised for April 2025 to September 2025 due to failure of equipment.BathUniversity of Bath Sports Training Village50 m(8)BirminghamUniversity of Birmingham Sports Centre50 m17 mAs part of new University Sports Centre.Brighton and HoveSea Lanes Brighton50 mCheltenham Sandford Parks Lido50 m27 m (10)Heated open-air pool, open seasonally between March and October.Corby, NorthamptonshireCorby East Midlands International Swimming Pool50 m(8)Opened July 2009.CoventryThe Alan Higgs Centre50 m(8)Built to replace the previous 50 m pool at Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre, which was closed in February 2020CrawleyK2 Crawley50 m(8)London Borough of Barking and DagenhamBecontree Heath Leisure Centre50 m(4)Built in addition to current 10-lane 25 m pool, which opened late 2018.Barking and Dagenham Post: Groundbreaking ceremony takes place for Dagenham's 50m Pool The 50 m pool is now open for public swimming on weekday mornings and at weekends.DundeeOlympia50 m(6)East KilbrideThe Dollan Aqua Centre50 m(6)Reopened in May 2011 after refurbishment.EdinburghRoyal Commonwealth Pool50 m21 m (8)Built for the 1970 British Commonwealth Games. Refurbished 2012.GuildfordGuildford Lido50 m27.4 m (10)An outdoor pool that is open during the summer months only.GuildfordSurrey Sports Park50 m20 m (8)Part of the University of Surrey.High WycombeWycombe Leisure Centre50 m(8)Opened January 2016 replacing Wycombe Sports Centre. 8-lane 50 m competition pool with 4-lane 20 m community pool.HillingdonHillingdon Sports & Leisure Centre50 m20 m (8)The new indoor pool adjacent to a refurbished Uxbridge Lido, opened on 23 March 2010.HitchinHitchin Swimming Centre50 mHitchin Swimming Centre sports indoor and outdoor pools. Outdoor pool opens between May and September.LetchworthLetchworth Outdoor Pool50 mOpen between May and September.LiverpoolLiverpool Aquatics Centre50 m(8)London Borough of EalingGurnell Leisure Centre50 m(8)The centre has been permanently closed.LondonBrockwell Lido50 mLondonCharlton Lido50 m(4)Lido, re-opened in 2013; closed from November 2013 until April 2014 for refurbishment.LondonCrystal Palace National Sports Centre50 m(8) The Olympic pool has been closed for a while. The 25 m training pool in the basement is available.LondonLondon Fields Lido50 m17 m (8)Lido, opened in 1932, closed in 1988, and re-opened in 2006.LondonPark Road Lido50 m23 mLido, opened in 1929, significant restoration and redevelopment in 2014/15.LoughboroughEnglish Institute of Sport50 m20 m (8)Based at Loughborough University.LutonInspire: Luton Sports Village50 m(8)A 50 m, eight-lane pool, a diving training centre and a 20 m × 10 m community pool.ManchesterManchester Aquatics Centre50 m20 m (8)Built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.50 m8 m (4)NorwichSportspark50 m17 m (8)Part of the University of East Anglia.NottinghamHarvey Hadden Sports Village50 m21 m (8)Completed in Summer 2015.OundleOundle School Sports Centre50 m(6)PeterboroughPeterborough Lido50 m18.5 m (8)Open-air heated lido. Open from end of May to September.PortsmouthMountbatten Centre50 m17 m (8)StirlingNational Swimming Academy50 m(6)Part of the University of Stirling.StockportGrand Central Pools50 m(8)Street, SomersetMillfield School50 m(8)School's private pool, only open to staff and students.StonehavenStonehaven Open Air Pool, Aberdeenshire50 m(8)Council run public pool, only open June to September.SwanseaWales National Pool50 m21 m (8)Part of the Swansea University.TavistockMount Kelly Swim Centre50 m16 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.WinchesterWinchester Sport & Leisure Park50 m(8)Operated by EveryoneActive for Winchester City Council. Opened in May 2021.

Planned or under construction/refurbishment

LocationPool/centre namePool dimensionsFurther informationLengthWidth (lanes)Redbridge, London50 mArchitects appointed for new 50 m pool.

Other notable long-course pools

Open

Bourne Lido, Bourne, Lincolnshire  – open air poolBourne Lido Brockwell Lido – 160 ft (48.77 m) open air pool; opened in 1937, closed in 1990, and re-opened in 1994 Jesus Green Swimming Pool, Cambridge – open air pool Lymington Open Air Sea Water Baths (Lymington Lido) – open air pool Parliament Hill Lido (Hampstead Heath Lido) – unheated open air pool Stonehaven Open Air Pool, Aberdeenshire – heated seawater open air pool Tooting Bec Lido – unheated open air pool Yearsley Swimming Pool, York – Yearsley Swimming PoolHistory of Yearsley Pool indoor pool

Closed Broomhill Pool, Ipswich – open air pool, plus diving pit. Subject of campaign to reopen.Broomhill Pool Trust Coventry Central Baths, Coventry - 50 metres, 8 lanes. Closed 15 February 2020 and will be demolished. Replaced by new 50m pool at Alan Higgs Centre. Derby Baths, Blackpool – 50 metres × 21 metres (8 lanes), with diving area and 1,800-seater viewing stadium. Opened in 1939 and closed in 1991.Lost Lidos Earls Court 1, Earls Court Exhibition Centre. 60m × 30m pool, up to 4m deep. Opened 1937. A 750 tonne retractable floor in three sections covered the pool when not in use and is lowered using water hydraulic rams. Demolished along with the rest of the Exhibition site. Last filled with water (2,250,000 gals) as a feature for the Ideal Home Show in 2011. Technical Manager Ray Simpson, who had maintained the pool since 1969, retired in July 2013. Earls Court has hosted both the 1948 and the 2012 Summer Olympics, but swimming was not held there on either occasion. The pool was most closely associated with the London Boat Show which was held annually from 1960 until 2003. Empire Pool, Wembley (now Wembley Arena). Venue for the 1948 Summer Olympics. Grange Lido, Cumbria. Open-air sea-water Art Deco 50m pool, opened 1932, closed 1993, with an undecided future but a vigorous campaign for its reopening for swimming. Gurnell Leisure Centre, Ealing. Opened 1981, closed in 2020 (it did not reopen following the COVID-19 lockdowns). The council plans to redevelop the centre, with a new 50m pool. Leeds International Pool, Leeds – 50 metres, 8 lanes. Closed 21 October 2007; now demolished. Murton Colliery Pool, Murton, County Durham – 50 metre open air pool, built in 1961, and closed in 1991 following the closure of the colliery; filled in. Wales Empire Pool at Cardiff. Venue for the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games; demolished in 1998 during construction of the Millennium Stadium. Replaced by the Cardiff International Pool. White City Stadium swimming pool. Venue for the 1908 Summer Olympics; site demolished in 1985. Wigan International Pool, Wigan – 50 metres, 8 lanes.Wigan International Pool (archived wepage) Closed 21 September 2008, and subsequently demolished. Replaced by a 25 × 21 m pool at the Wigan Life Centre.

See also List of long course swimming pools in the Republic of Ireland

References

External links About Olympic and 50 m Swimming pools in the UK and Ireland Images of Olympic Swimming Pools in the UK Map of all UK 50m pools from table above