When the sun is blazing and the weather starts to hot up, Brits tend to make a beeline for the nearest outdoor swimming spot. Whether it’s somewhere out in the wild or more man-made, there’s nothing better than diving into the water in the peak of British summer.
The UK is home of heaps of gorgeous, historical outdoors pools. Many are nearly a century old and need a bit more love and care than others to make sure that they continue to stand the test of time. One of those is Guildford Lido, which closed in November so that it could undergo a £2m makeover. But, good news! Guildford Lido has reopened its doors for the summer season.
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The lido features a 50-metre (Olympic size) outdoor heated pool, three water slides, a mini-golf course, a paddling pool and just over four acres of landscaped gardens. It’s refurbishment saw brand new changing rooms, improved drainage systems, new energy efficient boilers and an upgrade to the existing cafe.
Guildford Lido has been around for almost 100 years, having first opened to the public in 1933, and is one of the UK’s only remaining 1930s pools. Back then, a dip in the pool cost between two and a half pence and five pence per person.
Now open for the summer, today, a general swim session will cost you upwards of £5.57. And if you want to dive in year round, you can get an annual pass for £115. The pool will be open every day from the week from 6.30am to 8.30pm on weekdays and 8am to 6.30pm over the weekend.
A spokesperson for Freedom Leisure, the company that operates the lido, said: ‘Freedom Leisure is committed to offering an exceptional experience to its visitors while promoting environmental responsibility.
‘The new boilers are just one part of a broader plan to maintain and upgrade the facility, ensuring it continues to serve the community for many more years to come.’
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