Tinside Lido

For the dedicated sea swimmer, there are lots of places along Plymouth’s Hoe and foreshore where you can take a welcome dip – but there can’t be many outdoor pools that are set in as beautiful location, or with as interesting a history, as Tinside Lido.

What we now know as ‘wild swimming began in lakes, rivers and canals, with purpose-built outdoor pools being built from the late 1600s.

The ‘golden age’ of lidos here in the UK was the 1930s. Outdoor swimming had become really popular. Nearly 170 lidos were built by local councils who were keen to improve the appeal of their towns and cities to residents as well as holiday makers. With their distinctive architecture, changing facilities, cafes and sun terraces, these outdoor pools became known as lidos. The word is derived from ‘il lido’ – the Italian term for a beach, strand, seaside or seashore.

From the 1970s, people began to choose foreign holidays over ‘staycations’ and many lidos declined. Many of the most-loved that remain are by the coast and, like Tinside and Penzance’s Jubilee Pool, combine historic design with dramatic settings.

Tinside is regularly voted as one of the 10 best outdoor pools in Europe. It was designed in an art deco style and opened in 1935. Its semi-circular sea water bathing pool measures 180 feet, or over 50 metres, in diameter, while the depth varies from two feet in the shallow end to nine feet in the deepest.

During the Second World War, Tinside Lido was used as a communal bath house. Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, it was extremely popular. It closed in 1992 and received Grade II Listed Building status in 1998. It then underwent a £3.5m facelift in 2003 to return it to its former glory, reopening in 2005.

A few weeks ago, over a hundred people enjoyed a special early morning swim at the lido for the summer solstice.

Why not book in? Soak up the sun and sea air, do a few lengths and enjoy spending time in one of the UK’s most historic outdoor pools.

Tinside is open until 17 September this year. During the school summer holiday, admission times are 10am-6pm throughout the week; there are late evening swims on selected days. Term time openings are 12pm-6pm Monday to Friday and 10am-6pm on Saturday and Sunday. It is also the venue for Plymouth Arts Cinema’s ‘Open Air Cinema’ each August (see What’s On for this year’s listings). 

With thanks to The Box, Plymouth