After shutting during the Second World War, many pools were slow to reopen, if at all. At the Super Swimming Stadium in Morecambe, a queue of people a mile long waited to surge through the gates on opening day in 1936. Hilsea Lido in Portsmouth was practically a resort, replete with putting green, tennis courts, and miniature railway. Crowds flocked to swim in outdoor pools peppered along the British coast at Hayle, Barry, Margate, Plymouth, Hastings, Exmouth, Grange-over-Sands, and even Gourock and Stonehaven in Scotland. Many were art deco classics, from Jubilee Pool, which stuck out like a ship’s prow from the harbour in Penzance, to Saltdean near Brighton, with its neon signage and large sundecks. Lido architects employed in-vogue reinforced concrete to create clean, ultra-modern facades painted in dazzling white. Saltdean Lido Bathers at Saltdean Lido, East Sussex, circa 1940/ Credit: Getty History of the lido Today, there are more than 100 lidos in the UK, with more renovation projects in the pipeline. Lidos gave coastal communities a sociable, open air place to swim, protected from the rigours of the harsh sea. The trend really took off in the 1930s, influenced by Germany’s Volksparks, which were dedicated to healthy outdoor pursuits. How many lidos there in the UK?Īt the height of lido culture, Britain had more than 300 outdoor pools. The colourful row of changing rooms surrounding Victorian lidos is an iconic image. Facilities vary but lidos generally offer basic changing rooms and showers. What is a lido?Ī lido is an outdoor swimming pool near a beach or even in a city where people can swim and relax.
Or, check out our wild swimming guide for plenty of advice on how to get started, water safety and the best places for a natural alfresco dip. Find your nearest lido with our pick of Britain's best lidos and tidal pools in the UK, with a brief look at the history of the lido and its recent revival.
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