Art Deco Britain: Lidos
The 1920s and 1930s was the golden age of the lido in the UK, with 169 being built across the country by councils during that time. Although only a fraction of these exist today, some are of such great architectural importance that they have been Grade listed, such as Plymouth’s Tinside Lido and Ilkley Pool And Lido, which are both Grade II listed.
There were outdoor public baths in existence before this period, of course, but with the first woman, Gertrude Ederle, swimming the English Channel in 1926, the nation became obsessed with swimming and the art deco period became a golden age of lidos, prompting many outdoor swimming baths and lakes to change their names during this period – Tooting Bathing-Lake changed its name to Tooting Bec Lido in 1936.
The trend for lidos coincided with the era’s fashion for tanning and the media’s promotion of swimming as a means to improve health and fitness – in fact, many seaside towns saw having a lido as essential as having a pier for attracting visitors. Many cities also built lidos, giving urbanites the chance to enjoy swimming al fresco.
Most lidos tended to follow the same format when it came to appearance: rectangle or oval in shape, refreshment facilities, usually a slide, and a stylish diving board. By the 1960s, however, with the rise in cheap holidays abroad, the popularity of lidos declined, resulting in several closures. Despite this, and largely thanks to restoration projects, there are still a number that remain open to the public and retain their art deco flourishes – perfect for passing the summer months.
Tooting Bec
The second largest swimming pool in the UK and is one Britain’s oldest open air swimming pools. It opened in 1906 as the Tooting Bathing-Lake and changed its name to lido in 1936.
Tooting Bec Rd, London SW16 1RU: 020 8871 7198, www.placesforpeopleleisure.org
London Fields
A heated 50m lido which is open in most weathers. An 18 year campaign saved the liod from demolition and it was re-opened in 2006.
London Fields West Side, London: 020 7254 9038, www.better.org.uk/leisure/london-fields-lido
Hampton heated open air pool
Plans for the lido were approved in 1914 but the First World War meant it wasn’t actually built until 1922. The pool was closed by the council in 1980 but reopened five years later after a local community campaign raised funds to save it.
High St, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 2ST: 020 8255 1116, www.hamptonpool.co.uk
Sandford Parks Lido with its fountain
Jesus Green Swimming Pool
Opened in 1923, it is open between May and September every year. At 91meters in length it is among the longest outdoor swimming pools in Europe.
Cambridge CB4 3AX, 01223 302579, www.better.org.uk/leisure/jesusgreenlido
Hinksey Pool
One of the largest outdoor pools in Europe, this pool opened in 1934 and is situated on the site of the old Oxford Waterworks which closed in 1933.
Lake St, Oxford OX1 4RP: 01865 467079, www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/Hinksey_Outdoor_Pool
Jubilee Pool
Opened in May 1935, the year of King George V’s Silver Jubilee and is positioned by Battery Rocks near the harbour at Penzance.
Battery Road, Promenade TR18 4AA: 01736 369224, www.jubileepool.co.uk
Tinside Lido
Open between May and September, the Tinside Lido opened in 1935 and was awarded Grade II Listed Building status in 1998. It is a seawater lido.
Hoe Rd, Plymouth PL1 3DE: 01752 261915, www.everyoneactive.com/centre/tinside-lido
Sandford Parks Lido
Set in landscaped gardens in Cheltenham, the Lido consists of a 50-metre main pool, a children's pool, and paddling pool, all of which are heated. The lido opened in 1935; the opening ceremony featured a procession of open-top motor cars travelling carrying the Mayor of Cheltenham and his wife.
Keynsham Rd, Cheltenham GL53 7PU: 01242 524430, www.sandfordparkslido.org.uk
Droitwich spa lido
Opened in the 1930s, when the lido first opened one of the marketing ploys to attract tourists was that it was heated to exactly the same temperature as the Mediterranean Sea.
Worcester Rd, Droitwich WR9 8AA: 01905 799342, www.wychavonleisure.co.uk
Ilkley Pool and Lido
Ilkley Pool and Lido
Built in 1935 this is one of Yorkshire’s last open air swimming pools. The Grade II listed pool and lido also has a lovely Art Deco café. The lido is unheated and the indoor pool is heated.
Denton Rd, Ilkley, West Riding of Yorkshire LS29 0BZ: 01943 600453, www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/leisure_and_culture/sports_and_leisure/sports_facilities/ilkley.htm
Hathersage
open air heated swimming pool The only public lido in Derbyshire, it is heated to 29 degrees and opened in 1936. Original features include the veranda and bandstand.
Oddfellows Rd, Hope Valley, Hathersage S32 1DU: 01433 650843, www.hathersageswimmingpool.co.uk
Pontyprid Lido
Built in 1927, the lido has been fully restored to its former glory and has three heated outdoor pools. The original turnstiles and wooden cubicles were saved during the restoration. There is also a café, play area and heated changing facilities.
Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, Pontypridd CF37 4PE: 01443 490490, www2.rctcbc.gov.uk/en/lido/home.aspx
There were outdoor public baths in existence before this period, of course, but with the first woman, Gertrude Ederle, swimming the English Channel in 1926, the nation became obsessed with swimming and the art deco period became a golden age of lidos, prompting many outdoor swimming baths and lakes to change their names during this period – Tooting Bathing-Lake changed its name to Tooting Bec Lido in 1936.
The trend for lidos coincided with the era’s fashion for tanning and the media’s promotion of swimming as a means to improve health and fitness – in fact, many seaside towns saw having a lido as essential as having a pier for attracting visitors. Many cities also built lidos, giving urbanites the chance to enjoy swimming al fresco.
Most lidos tended to follow the same format when it came to appearance: rectangle or oval in shape, refreshment facilities, usually a slide, and a stylish diving board. By the 1960s, however, with the rise in cheap holidays abroad, the popularity of lidos declined, resulting in several closures. Despite this, and largely thanks to restoration projects, there are still a number that remain open to the public and retain their art deco flourishes – perfect for passing the summer months.
Tooting Bec
The second largest swimming pool in the UK and is one Britain’s oldest open air swimming pools. It opened in 1906 as the Tooting Bathing-Lake and changed its name to lido in 1936.
Tooting Bec Rd, London SW16 1RU: 020 8871 7198, www.placesforpeopleleisure.org
London Fields
A heated 50m lido which is open in most weathers. An 18 year campaign saved the liod from demolition and it was re-opened in 2006.
London Fields West Side, London: 020 7254 9038, www.better.org.uk/leisure/london-fields-lido
Hampton heated open air pool
Plans for the lido were approved in 1914 but the First World War meant it wasn’t actually built until 1922. The pool was closed by the council in 1980 but reopened five years later after a local community campaign raised funds to save it.
High St, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 2ST: 020 8255 1116, www.hamptonpool.co.uk
Sandford Parks Lido with its fountainJesus Green Swimming Pool
Opened in 1923, it is open between May and September every year. At 91meters in length it is among the longest outdoor swimming pools in Europe.
Cambridge CB4 3AX, 01223 302579, www.better.org.uk/leisure/jesusgreenlido
Hinksey Pool
One of the largest outdoor pools in Europe, this pool opened in 1934 and is situated on the site of the old Oxford Waterworks which closed in 1933.
Lake St, Oxford OX1 4RP: 01865 467079, www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/Hinksey_Outdoor_Pool
Jubilee Pool
Opened in May 1935, the year of King George V’s Silver Jubilee and is positioned by Battery Rocks near the harbour at Penzance.
Battery Road, Promenade TR18 4AA: 01736 369224, www.jubileepool.co.uk
Tinside Lido
Open between May and September, the Tinside Lido opened in 1935 and was awarded Grade II Listed Building status in 1998. It is a seawater lido.
Hoe Rd, Plymouth PL1 3DE: 01752 261915, www.everyoneactive.com/centre/tinside-lido
Sandford Parks Lido
Set in landscaped gardens in Cheltenham, the Lido consists of a 50-metre main pool, a children's pool, and paddling pool, all of which are heated. The lido opened in 1935; the opening ceremony featured a procession of open-top motor cars travelling carrying the Mayor of Cheltenham and his wife.
Keynsham Rd, Cheltenham GL53 7PU: 01242 524430, www.sandfordparkslido.org.uk
Droitwich spa lido
Opened in the 1930s, when the lido first opened one of the marketing ploys to attract tourists was that it was heated to exactly the same temperature as the Mediterranean Sea.
Worcester Rd, Droitwich WR9 8AA: 01905 799342, www.wychavonleisure.co.uk
Ilkley Pool and Lido Ilkley Pool and Lido
Built in 1935 this is one of Yorkshire’s last open air swimming pools. The Grade II listed pool and lido also has a lovely Art Deco café. The lido is unheated and the indoor pool is heated.
Denton Rd, Ilkley, West Riding of Yorkshire LS29 0BZ: 01943 600453, www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/leisure_and_culture/sports_and_leisure/sports_facilities/ilkley.htm
Hathersage
open air heated swimming pool The only public lido in Derbyshire, it is heated to 29 degrees and opened in 1936. Original features include the veranda and bandstand.
Oddfellows Rd, Hope Valley, Hathersage S32 1DU: 01433 650843, www.hathersageswimmingpool.co.uk
Pontyprid Lido
Built in 1927, the lido has been fully restored to its former glory and has three heated outdoor pools. The original turnstiles and wooden cubicles were saved during the restoration. There is also a café, play area and heated changing facilities.
Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, Pontypridd CF37 4PE: 01443 490490, www2.rctcbc.gov.uk/en/lido/home.aspx