DIVE IN... TO THE LIDO REVOLUTION

EXCLUSIVE: After a long period of decline and neglect, Britain's glorious outdoor pools are being restored to their former glory by dedicated communities. By KATH OPPS

- KATH OPPS

THEY were once at threat of ‘vanishing entirely, but British lidos are making a huge splash with swimmers once again.

This month, London opens its first Olympic-sized outdoor pool, Sea Lanes Canary Wharf lido, a natural freshwater facility located in Eden Dock that will stay open for 364 days a year.

Meanwhile, Stroud District Council last week confirmed it will reopen Stratford Park Lido in Gloucestershire in August.

Councillors have agreed to allocate £276,000 of funds for urgent maintenance repairs following a public campaign to save the site.

The “lido revolution”, as campaigners have dubbed it, is being driven by communities embracing a return to open-air swimming in recent years.

“What we're seeing is a blend of nostalgia and practicality,” says Jen Baldwin, research specialist at Findmypast who has examined the trend. “In the 1920s and 30s, lidos offered affordable local leisure during a tough economic time — and today, that pattern is returning.

“With the cost of living front of mind and global uncertainty affecting travel, more people are choosing to enjoy the UK summer rather than commit to trips abroad.”

The trend also appears to be more than just surface-level interest.

“Lidos offer something deeper too: a direct link to how previous generations lived, socialised and relaxed before the era of low-cost travel,” continues Jen.

“As UK summers grow warmer, they’re not just places to cool off, but spaces that reconnect us with the traditions and rhythms that have long shaped our community life.”

Lidos were established as part of post-war public works programmes in the early 20th century to drive job creation and better health among citizens but they evolved into fashionable, sociable hubs that became “destinations” in their own right.