List of Olympic-size swimming pools in the United Kingdom
List of Olympic-size swimming pools in the United Kingdom 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 m pools, and there was a marked reluctance on the part of municipal authorities to build new public long-course facilities. As of 2008, however, a substantial number of pools have either recently opened, or are under development. The successful bid to hold the 2012 Summer Olympics in London has undoubtedly added impetus to the latter, with a number of new venues due for completion before the Games, although some existing pools are under threat and may not be replaced by 50 m facilities. As yet, no university in the UK possesses an Olympic standard pool.
Olympic standard pools
England
* Leeds — 50 × 25 metres, 10 lane
Aquatics Centre at John Charles Centre for Sport (formerly South Leeds Stadium)
* Sheffield — 50 × 25 metres, 10 lanes
Ponds Forge International Sports Centre
* Sunderland — 50 × 25 metres, 10 lane
Sunderland Aquatic Centre
Construction began February 2006, Opened 18 April 2008.
England — planned or under construction
* London — 50 m × 25 m, 10 lane + 50 m × 20 m, 8 lane
Planned venue for the 2012 Summer Olympics
* Plymouth — 50 m × 25 m, 10 lane
As part of the new £26m Sharron Davies Centre
Scotland
* Glasgow — 50 × 25 metres, 10 lanes
National Swimming Centre at Tollcross Leisure Centre
Wales
* Cardiff — 50 × 25 metres, 10 lanes
Cardiff International Pool
Part of the Cardiff International Sports Village. Opened 12 January 2008.
Northern Ireland - planned or under construction
* Bangor — 50 metres, 10 lanes
North Down Borough Council - due for completion 2010.
Other 50 metre pools
England
* Aldershot — 50 metres × 18 metres, 8 lanes
Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre
This is a British Army swimming pool, but it is open to the public at certain times.
* Bath — 50 metres, 8 lanes
University Of Bath Sports Training Village
Part of the University of Bath. Students can swim for free.
* Coventry — 50 metres, 8 lanes
Coventry Sports And Leisure Centre
May be closed and/or refurbished.
* Crawley — 50 metres, 8 lanes
[http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcServiceSS_GET_PAGE&nodeId580 K2 Centre]
* Crystal Palace — 50 metres, 8 lanes
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
Closed for repair until December 2009.
* Ealing — 50 metres
Gurnell Leisure Centre
Under threat of closure and replacement with new 50 m pool in Acton (see below).
* Guildford — 50 metres
Guildford Lido
An outdoor pool that is open during the summer months only.
* Liverpool — 50 metres, 8 lane
Picton Leisure Centre
Opened Autumn 2007.
* London Borough of Hackney — 50 × 17 metres, 8 lanes
London Fields Lido
Lido, opened in 1932, closed in 1988, and re-opened in 2006.
* Loughborough — 50 × 20 metres, 8 lanes
Loughborough Pool
English Institute of Sport pool at Loughborough University.
* Manchester — 50 × 20 metres, 8 lanes + 50 × 8 metres, 4 lanes
Manchester Aquatics Centre
Only current UK venue with two 50 m pools on the same site. Built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
* Norwich — 50 × 17 metres, 8 lane
UEA Sports Centre
Part of the University of East Anglia Sportspark.
* Stockport — 50 metres, 8 lanes
Grand Central Pools
* Street, Somerset — 50 metres, 8 lanes
Millfield School's private pool, only open to staff and students.
* Wigan — 50 metres, 8 lanes
Wigan International Pool
Scheduled for demolition and replacement with a 25 m pool only.
England — planned or under construction/refurbishment
* Acton
Ealing Council is considering a 50 m pool at this location. This may result in the demolition of the Ealing 50 m pool, to be replaced with a 25 m pool.
* Basildon
Basildon District Council is planning a "50 m Olympic-sized swimming pool" pool in the town, to be constructed in time to support the 2012 London Olympics.
* Bristol — 50 metres, 8 lane
Due to open in 2010.
*Corby — 50 metres, 8 lane
Construction began February 2007, due to open in 2008.
* Portsmouth — 50 metres, 8 lane
Planning permission approved for the redevelopment of the Mountbatten Centre, including a new 50 m, 8 lane pool. Planned to open summer 2009.
* Redbridge
Architects appointed for new 50 m pool.
* University of Surrey - 50 metres, 8 lane Building commenced 07 July 2008, due for completion in November 2009.
* Uxbridge — 50 metres, 8 lane
Plans approved for a new indoor Olympic-standard pool adjacent to a refurbished Uxbridge Lido, to be completed in 2009.
Scotland
* East Kilbride — 50 metres, 6 lanes
The Dollan Aqua Centre
* Edinburgh — 50 × 21 metres, 8 lane
Royal Commonwealth Pool - built for the 1970 British Commonwealth Games
Site to be refurbished, with 50 m pool retained.
* Stirling — 50 metres, 8 lanes
Robertson Trust Swimming Pool/National Swimming Academy
Part of the University of Stirling.
Scotland - planned or under construction
* Aberdeen — 50 × 20 m
Aberdeen City Council is proposing a 50 m pool at the site of the current Linksfield Swimming Pool.
Wales
* Swansea — 50 × 21 metres, 8 lanes
Wales National Pool
Part of the University of Wales Swansea.
Other notable pools
Open
* High Wycombe — 50 metres, 6 lanes
Wycombe Sport Centre
* York — 50 yards × 15 metres (45.72 × 14.6m)
Yearsley Swimming Pool
Closed
*Empire Pool, Wembley (now Wembley Arena) — venue for the 1948 Summer Olympics.
*White City Stadium swimming pool — venue for the 1908 Summer Olympics. Site demolished in 1985.
* Leeds International Pool, Leeds — 50 metres, 8 lanes. Closed 21 October 2007. Scheduled for demolition.
* Wales Empire Pool at Cardiff — venue for the for the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games; demolished during construction of the Millennium Stadium.
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 m pools, and there was a marked reluctance on the part of municipal authorities to build new public long-course facilities. As of 2008, however, a substantial number of pools have either recently opened, or are under development. The successful bid to hold the 2012 Summer Olympics in London has undoubtedly added impetus to the latter, with a number of new venues due for completion before the Games, although some existing pools are under threat and may not be replaced by 50 m facilities. As yet, no university in the UK possesses an Olympic standard pool.
Olympic standard pools
England
* Leeds — 50 × 25 metres, 10 lane
Aquatics Centre at John Charles Centre for Sport (formerly South Leeds Stadium)
* Sheffield — 50 × 25 metres, 10 lanes
Ponds Forge International Sports Centre
* Sunderland — 50 × 25 metres, 10 lane
Sunderland Aquatic Centre
Construction began February 2006, Opened 18 April 2008.
England — planned or under construction
* London — 50 m × 25 m, 10 lane + 50 m × 20 m, 8 lane
Planned venue for the 2012 Summer Olympics
* Plymouth — 50 m × 25 m, 10 lane
As part of the new £26m Sharron Davies Centre
Scotland
* Glasgow — 50 × 25 metres, 10 lanes
National Swimming Centre at Tollcross Leisure Centre
Wales
* Cardiff — 50 × 25 metres, 10 lanes
Cardiff International Pool
Part of the Cardiff International Sports Village. Opened 12 January 2008.
Northern Ireland - planned or under construction
* Bangor — 50 metres, 10 lanes
North Down Borough Council - due for completion 2010.
Other 50 metre pools
England
* Aldershot — 50 metres × 18 metres, 8 lanes
Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre
This is a British Army swimming pool, but it is open to the public at certain times.
* Bath — 50 metres, 8 lanes
University Of Bath Sports Training Village
Part of the University of Bath. Students can swim for free.
* Coventry — 50 metres, 8 lanes
Coventry Sports And Leisure Centre
May be closed and/or refurbished.
* Crawley — 50 metres, 8 lanes
[http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcServiceSS_GET_PAGE&nodeId580 K2 Centre]
* Crystal Palace — 50 metres, 8 lanes
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
Closed for repair until December 2009.
* Ealing — 50 metres
Gurnell Leisure Centre
Under threat of closure and replacement with new 50 m pool in Acton (see below).
* Guildford — 50 metres
Guildford Lido
An outdoor pool that is open during the summer months only.
* Liverpool — 50 metres, 8 lane
Picton Leisure Centre
Opened Autumn 2007.
* London Borough of Hackney — 50 × 17 metres, 8 lanes
London Fields Lido
Lido, opened in 1932, closed in 1988, and re-opened in 2006.
* Loughborough — 50 × 20 metres, 8 lanes
Loughborough Pool
English Institute of Sport pool at Loughborough University.
* Manchester — 50 × 20 metres, 8 lanes + 50 × 8 metres, 4 lanes
Manchester Aquatics Centre
Only current UK venue with two 50 m pools on the same site. Built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
* Norwich — 50 × 17 metres, 8 lane
UEA Sports Centre
Part of the University of East Anglia Sportspark.
* Stockport — 50 metres, 8 lanes
Grand Central Pools
* Street, Somerset — 50 metres, 8 lanes
Millfield School's private pool, only open to staff and students.
* Wigan — 50 metres, 8 lanes
Wigan International Pool
Scheduled for demolition and replacement with a 25 m pool only.
England — planned or under construction/refurbishment
* Acton
Ealing Council is considering a 50 m pool at this location. This may result in the demolition of the Ealing 50 m pool, to be replaced with a 25 m pool.
* Basildon
Basildon District Council is planning a "50 m Olympic-sized swimming pool" pool in the town, to be constructed in time to support the 2012 London Olympics.
* Bristol — 50 metres, 8 lane
Due to open in 2010.
*Corby — 50 metres, 8 lane
Construction began February 2007, due to open in 2008.
* Portsmouth — 50 metres, 8 lane
Planning permission approved for the redevelopment of the Mountbatten Centre, including a new 50 m, 8 lane pool. Planned to open summer 2009.
* Redbridge
Architects appointed for new 50 m pool.
* University of Surrey - 50 metres, 8 lane Building commenced 07 July 2008, due for completion in November 2009.
* Uxbridge — 50 metres, 8 lane
Plans approved for a new indoor Olympic-standard pool adjacent to a refurbished Uxbridge Lido, to be completed in 2009.
Scotland
* East Kilbride — 50 metres, 6 lanes
The Dollan Aqua Centre
* Edinburgh — 50 × 21 metres, 8 lane
Royal Commonwealth Pool - built for the 1970 British Commonwealth Games
Site to be refurbished, with 50 m pool retained.
* Stirling — 50 metres, 8 lanes
Robertson Trust Swimming Pool/National Swimming Academy
Part of the University of Stirling.
Scotland - planned or under construction
* Aberdeen — 50 × 20 m
Aberdeen City Council is proposing a 50 m pool at the site of the current Linksfield Swimming Pool.
Wales
* Swansea — 50 × 21 metres, 8 lanes
Wales National Pool
Part of the University of Wales Swansea.
Other notable pools
Open
* High Wycombe — 50 metres, 6 lanes
Wycombe Sport Centre
* York — 50 yards × 15 metres (45.72 × 14.6m)
Yearsley Swimming Pool
Closed
*Empire Pool, Wembley (now Wembley Arena) — venue for the 1948 Summer Olympics.
*White City Stadium swimming pool — venue for the 1908 Summer Olympics. Site demolished in 1985.
* Leeds International Pool, Leeds — 50 metres, 8 lanes. Closed 21 October 2007. Scheduled for demolition.
* Wales Empire Pool at Cardiff — venue for the for the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games; demolished during construction of the Millennium Stadium.
Comments