We need to thank the Germans for the graceful art deco, alfresco pools located around Britain, both in our cities and on the coast.
The ‘volksparks’ of Germany, which then, as now, were dedicated to rehabilitation and health, were the inspiration for the lido which, fused with the English predilection for hedonism and ice cream, created a building splurge, peaking in the 1930s when there were more than 300 outdoor pools across the UK.
Air travel and municipal funding cuts took their toll after the war and, by the early 21st century, barely two dozen survived.
Yet a lido revival is well under way with many long-derelict sites being restored to their former glory. Here are our top picks from across the UK…
Penzance perfection
The Jubilee Pool in Penzance is a triangular-shaped seawater lido on the coast
The Jubilee Pool in Penzance, Cornwall, is a triangular-shaped seawater lido dramatically situated on the coast.
In addition to the main pool, there’s a smaller one that’s the first in the UK to be geothermally heated.
King Charles didn’t strip off for a dip when he visited with Camilla to reopen the pool after a two-year closure in 2016, but he did have photos taken with two senior female swimmers, both clad in Union flag swimsuits.
Food and drink: The cafe serves full Cornish breakfasts, sandwiches, bagels and red lentil daal with flatbread.
After you’ve dried off: Take a stroll to see the wonderful local works of art at Penlee House Gallery & Museum (penleehouse.org.uk).
Book a swim: Adults £7, children £5.50 (jubileepool.co.uk).
Take the plunge in Plymouth
Tinside Lido is a vast, semi-circular, salt water pool that’s 55 metres in diameter
With a superb view over the dark blue waters of Plymouth Hoe, Tinside Lido is a vast, semi-circular, salt water pool that’s a behemoth by UK lido standards: 55 metres in diameter. A trio of fountains provide a constant cascade of fresh water to drench yourself under, and the tiled stripes on the bottom exude classic art deco symmetry.
Food and drink: There’s a cafe on site serving hot drinks, snacks and ice cream.
After you’ve dried off: Check out Look II, Sir Antony Gormley’s 12ft-tall cast iron giant, which stares out across the choppy waters on West Hoe.
Book a swim: Adults £8, children £6 (plymouth active.co.uk).
Bathe in Bristol
Entry at Bristol Lido is pricey at for a skinny pool (nine metres wide by 24 metres long)
But the onsite restaurant serves the likes of scallops and aubergine caponata
Expect hanging baskets, azure tiles and jaunty, striped changing room doors at Bristol Lido, hidden away amid the vast Georgian mansions of the upmarket neighbourhood of Clifton.
Entry is pricey for a skinny pool (nine metres wide by 24 metres long). But this is a fine setting – and its revival in 2008, after falling into disrepair and closing in 1990, is a local success story. The pool originally opened as Clifton Victoria Baths in 1850.
Food and drink: The restaurant serves the likes of aubergine caponata with fried polenta, goats curd and pine nuts. A poolside bar serves small plates including Cornish crab croquettes.
After you’ve dried off: Visit the intriguing nearby Clifton Observatory (cliftonobservatory.com).
Book a swim: Adults £25, children £7.50, under-fours swim free (lidobristol.com).
Peterborough delight
Peterborough Lido dates from 1936
It’s Olympic sized (50 metres long), overlooked by sunbathing terraces and a large lawn
Peterborough Lido dates from 1936 with views across to the steeple of Peterborough Cathedral. It’s Olympic sized (50 metres long), overlooked by sunbathing terraces and a large lawn. Occasional ‘dog swim’ days are held, so your pooch can take a dip, too.
Food and drink: Poolside cafe serving breakfasts, burgers, cakes and coffee.
After you’ve dried off: Meet the alpacas which call nearby Sacrewell Farm home (sacrewell.org.uk).
Book a swim: Adults from £5.50, children from £4, under fives swim for £2 (vivacity.org).
The top spot in Wales
Lido Ponty in Pontypridd is full of charm with racing green chalet-style changing room doors
Pontypridd’s Lido Ponty, dating from 1927, is otherwise known as ‘The National Lido Of Wales’, although this rather grandiose title exaggerates what is quite a humble lido. But it’s full of charm with racing green chalet-style changing room doors right by the pool’s edge. Excellent value tickets.
Food and drink: The curved art deco cafe is home to a waffle house.
After you’ve dried off: At the Rhondda Heritage Park former miners lead underground tours (rctcbc.gov.uk).
Book a swim: Adults £3, under-16s swim free (rctcbc.gov.uk).
Dip into Yorkshire
Ilkley Lido in West Yorkshire houses an ace of spades-shaped pool complex
Swimmers cool off at the lido, which provides beautiful views of the slopes of Ilkley Moor
Sweeping views of the perky, green slopes of Ilkley Moor are to be had from Ilkley Lido in West Yorkshire.
This ace of spades-shaped pool complex also has tennis courts, a putting green and crown bowls on site. Large grassy areas surround the pool, providing plenty of room for a picnic after your dip. But be warned: this lido is unheated, so it can get nippy.
Food and drink: Cafe and snack vending machines, or you can bring food to eat at picnic tables.
After you’ve dried off: Go for a ramble on Ilkley Moor; head for the Cow and Calf Rocks, a complex of gargantuan stones created by ancient glacial activity.
Book a swim: Adults from £6.45, children from £3.35, under-threes swim free (bradford.gov.uk/lido).
Cool in the Cotswolds
Sandford Parks Lido was used by the Malawi team for training before the 2012 Olympics
Dating from 1935, Sandford Parks Lido in Cheltenham is as chi-chi and demure as you would expect from this Cotswolds hub. The pool is 50 metres long and was used by the Malawi team for training before the 2012 London Olympics. It’s not just for ‘serious’ swimmers, though, as there’s an array of slides and a smaller children’s pool.
Food and drink: The onsite Castaway Kitchen serves bacon baps, currywurst and falafel poké bowls.
After you’ve dried off: Soak up the Regency vibe with a stroll among the Caryatids on Montpellier Walk.
Book a swim: Adults £7.70, children £5.30, under-fives swim free (sandfordparkslido.org.uk).
Scotland’s hot dip
Stonehaven Open Air Pool near Aberdeen is heated to 29C
Britain’s most northerly lido, Stonehaven Open Air Pool in the port-town of Stonehaven near Aberdeen, is right by the North Sea. But don’t worry, you’re assured to stay toasty in the Stonehaven Bay seawater, heated to 29C. It proudly lays claim to being ‘the UK’s only art deco Olympic-sized sea water lido’.
Food and drink: The poolside Splash Cafe serves huge bacon, egg and sausage rolls, paninis and loaded fries with pulled pork.
After you’ve dried off: Take a walk to the spectacular Dunnottar Castle, about 45 minutes’ away (dunnottar castle.co.uk).
Book a swim: Adults £10, children £6.60 (stonehaven openairpool.co.uk).
Midlands splash
The art deco-era pavilion at Droitwich Spa Lido in Worcestershire has seen better days
One of the few saltwater inland lidos, Droitwich Spa Lido in Worcestershire is almost as salty as the Dead Sea. The art deco-era pavilion has seen better days, but this remains a magnificent lido with water cannons, fountains and a wet play area.
Food and drink: The cafe serves beef chilli, toasties, cakes and stacked breakfast sandwiches.
After you’ve dried off: Go for an afternoon hike in the Malvern Hills.
Book a swim: Adults from £8.80, children £6.80 (riversfitness.co.uk).
Brighton rocks
The pool and buildings at Saltdean Lido are the benchmark for how a 1930s lido should look
This is Britain’s only Grade II-listed coastal lido
Reopened last year after extensive restoration, Saltdean Lido has its very own library.
The pool and surrounding buildings are the benchmark for how a 1930s lido should look: you can’t move for graceful, whitewashed curves. It’s the country’s only Grade II-listed coastal lido.
Food and drink: Choose from the Deco restaurant, the more informal Deco Cafe or the onsite Airstream trailer serving burgers and ice cream.
After you’ve dried off: Soak up views across the Channel on the Brighton i360 pod (brightoni360.co.uk).
Book a swim: Adults from £11.60, from children £8.60 (saltdeanlido.co.uk).
Tooting treat
Tooting Bec Lido is the UK’s biggest at 91.4 metres long and 30.2 metres wide
Almost hidden by trees in a corner of Tooting Common, you could easily walk past Tooting Bec Lido, the UK’s biggest lido (91.4 metres long and 30.2 metres wide), without realising it’s there.
Gazebos are at one end, while gorgeous art deco changing cubicles line the poolside, their doors painted in bright primary colours.
Food and drink: There’s a cafe on site or you can bring your own picnic.
After you’ve dried off: Head to Tooting Market, one of the most vibrant indoor markets in London.
Book a swim: Adults £9.40, children £5.20 (places leisure.org).
