This last-of-its-kind lido near London will soon reopen after a major glow-up

If an alfresco dip is your idea of a good time, you will have been swimming in good news lately. That’s because lidos and coastal lagoons up and down the country are reopening for the summer months – and several have been getting upgrades galore.

This month will see Portsmouth’s Hilsea Lido reopen for the first time since 2022 with a revamped pool and sauna. Portishead Open Air Pool, too, has just welcomed back swimmers after a £1.3m makeover. Elsewhere, Worthing’s art deco outdoor pool is gearing up for a huge £4.5 million restoration to stop it falling into the sea. 

Plus, Ramsgate Lido could be set for an epic comeback after half a century in disrepair. Non-profit organisation Heritage Lab Ramsgate said in February that it is in discussions with a developer interested in creating an outdoor swimming pool complex at the site of its former Marina Bathing Pool.

Plans are still in the early stages, so it’s not clear if or when we can expect the project to come to life. In the meantime, though, another one of Kent’s aquatic parks is about to reopen for the summer season, debuting some exciting new features.

The Strand Lido and Leisure Park in Gillingham – which is the only riverside saltwater tidal swimming pool in England – underwent a major £250,000 refurb last year. The leisure complex, which includes an outdoor pool, six 25m lanes for swimming, a 300m lazy river, a café and pool inflatable shop, is now also home to a shiny new beach-themed children’s play zone complete with 30 sensor-activated waterjets. The new splash pad is designed for children aged between three and 11. 

Welcoming back visitors from Saturday May 23, the Strand Park is also home to a miniature train ride, four newly refurbished tennis courts, an outdoor gym, riverside walks, a picnic area and access to the pebbled beach area.

Ahead of its opening date, the Victorian lido will be filled with water from the river which is then chlorinated, vacuumed and swept, before a sample is sent to a microbiology lab for testing.

The Strand pool first opened in 1896 and was officially recognised as being ‘historically significant’ after gaining membership to Historic Pools of Britain last year.

Fancy a scenic dip? Here's Time Out's list of the 17 most spectacular outdoor swimming pools in the UK.

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