Swimathon venues to try in 2024
Whether it’s your first Swimathon, or twentieth (or somewhere in between!) why not try somewhere new to swim in Swimathon 2024? Take a look at these options:
(And if you’ve already booked your slot in another venue, don’t worry you can change as long as there’s still availability!)
Swim in a 50 metre pool
50 metre pools are always a popular option for Swimathon swimmers; this year these pools are offering a 50 metre option:
Charlton Lido Lifestyle Club - a beautiful lido built in 1939 and refurbished in 2013, in the lovely suburb of Eltham. Make a weekend out of it and visit nearby Greenwich with its attractions including the Cutty Sark and the Greenwich Meridian Line.
Guildford Lido - 10 outdoor swimming lanes in beautiful grounds with free parking and a free hot drink after your swim! Guildford Lido is currently being refurbished and is opening just in time for Swimathon 2024!
Hengrove Park Leisure Centre - this pool in Bristol is only 11 years ago and features an Olympic-sized pool at its heart. Stay for the weekend and visit attractions like SS Great Britain or Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Mountkelly swim centre - if you fancy venturing further South West from Bristol, then Mount Kelly’s 50 metre pool in Tavistock is for you, it’s in between two beautiful areas - Dartmoor National Park and Tamar Valley - perfect for stretching your legs pre- or post-swim!
Surrey Sports Park - this is another option in Guildford. Surrey Sports Park is a state-of-the-art venue built in 2010 where many elite sportspeople train.
Cardiff International Pool & Gym - Cardiff’s International pool is situated near Cardiff’s waterside area, Cardiff Bay - a relaxing place to unwind after your swim! It also has an ice rink and white water rafting centre across the road if you want to build an activity weekend!
Wales National Pool Swansea - another Welsh option with a 50 metre pool, the Wales National Pool is where some of the 2012 Olympic swimmers did their training. Swansea is located on the edge of the beautiful Gower peninsula with award-winning beaches.
Oundle School Sports Centre - another new pool, built in 2010, Oundle is about 14 miles away from Peterborough, and could be an option for you to consider if you’re in Northamptonshire or Cambridgeshire.
London Fields Lido - a very popular lido in Hackney, East London which was lovingly restored and re-opened in 2006
Sea Lanes Brighton - Sea Lanes is a new outdoor swimming pool on the Brighton coast which opened in June 2023. Being new, this is the first time they’re hosting Swimathon and offers a great new option for swimmers looking for a 50 metre pool option.
Our 50 metre options sell out quickly, so enter now before you lose your slot!
Swim in an outdoor pool
You might have noticed that some of the 50m options are also outdoor lidos. Lidos are another popular option; this year these lidos are official Swimathon venues and as you’ll see, many of them are in London so you could make a weekend out of it in the Big Smoke!
Hathersage Swimming Pool - a beautiful lido steeped in history since its opening in 1936, and situated in the Peak District making it a great option for a Swimathon weekend away!
Jesus Green Lido - Jesus Green Lido is situated in Cambridge - a great option if you want to surround yourself with history and heritage.
London Fields Lido - the Swimathon team attended London Fields Lido for Swimathon 2023 and can vouch that it has a great atmosphere!
Charlton Lido Lifestyle Club - a beautiful lido built in 1939 and refurbished in 2013. Make a weekend out of it and visit nearby Greenwich with its attractions including the Cutty Sark and the Greenwich Meridian Line.
Hampton Pool - another London option but this time on the West side, within Bushy Park in Richmond so another pool with beautiful surroundings!
Guildford Lido - 10 outdoor swimming lanes in beautiful grounds with free parking and a free hot drink after your swim! Guildford Lido is currently being refurbished and is opening just in time for Swimathon 2024!
Sea Lanes, Brighton - Sea Lanes only opened in June 2023 and is proving popular with swimmers along the South Coast. It’s the first time they’re hosting a Swimathon event so we think this will be a memorable option!
If you’re an outdoor swimmer but prefer wild swimming to swimming in a pool, you could still take part through our MySwimathon option - take a look at our Outdoor Swimming page for more info
Lido venues usually sell out, so enter now to secure your space
Or try one of these Swimathon spotlight venues
We wanted to shine a spotlight on these ten venues who have supported Swimathon for many years and could be the perfect venue for you if you just fancy trying somewhere totally different!
Gosport Leisure Centre - Gosport is in an interesting location, across the water from Portsmouth Harbour so surrounded by lots to see and do including Spinnaker Tower.
Guildford Lido - yes Guildford Lido makes it onto all 3 lists! don’t forget they’re under refurb ready for Swimathon 2024!
Fishguard Leisure Centre - Fishguard is located near Pembrokeshire National Park which is full of award-winning beaches and activities like coasteering, and puffin-watching boat trips!
East Manchester Leisure Centre - another new pool, built in 2014; and not too far from Manchester city centre so perfect for a city break with lots of public transport options.
Riverside Leisure Centre - this is right in the centre of Norwich so another option for a city break in a cathedral city.
Crown Pools - Crown Pools in Ipswich has a great family pool option if you want to take your babies and toddlers swimming and splashing before or after your Swimathon event!
Elswick Community Pool and Gym - a great option in the North East of England, just outside of Newcastle centre. Elswick has an inspirational story behind it; it got closed in 2015 due to local council budget cuts but the community came together to take it over and re-open it.
Yearsley Swimming Pool - if you haven’t visited York yet, this could be your sign. York is a historic city where you can spend hours ambling through the gothic alleways before treating yourself to a post-swim treat at Betty’s Tea Room!
Lifestyle Eastfield - this pool is on the outskirts of Glasgow, so yet another option for a city break, this time north of the Scottish Border.
Tudor Grange Leisure Centre - and last but definitely not least, Tudor Grange is located in Solihull making it a great option for anybody in the Midlands.
To book any of these, enter now; or visit our venues page for a full list of Swimathon venues
