The 101-year-old English lido home to the country’s longest outdoor pool
A LIDO in the UK is the longest in the country – and is even one of the biggest in Europe.
Jesus Green Lido in Cambridge is one of the few remaining outdoor pools that remain open from the 1920s.
The 101-year-old pool opened in 1923, and was once separated between men and women, which is why the pool is shallow at each end and only deep in the middle.
You might struggle to do lengths – it’s a huge 91m long, more than triple the length of a standard pool.
This makes it the longest pool in the UK, although it is tied with Tooting Bed Lido in London.
The only downside is that it’s not heated – although most lidos aren’t – with the warmest being mid 20s during the summer.
The pool has three lanes with fast, medium and slow, so you don’t need to worry about getting in the way
There is also a grass sunbathing area, as well as a table tennis area and even on-site sauna.
Changing rooms and showers are available too, although you’ll need your own toiletries.
There’s an on-site cafe too, serving drinks and ice creams.
Time is right and you can sign up to one of their rare events, including mental health swim sessions, winter swim sessions and even live music.
Previous swimmers have raved about the pool with one saying it has an “old world charm”.
Another wrote: “Although it is not heated and looks a bit shabby, that just adds to the Charm. You almost feel you could be back in the 1950s.”
A third agreed: “This is an extraordinary place. Unsophisticated in a good way!”
The pool opens from May to September from 7am to 7pm, and while it is open for the rest of the year, days and hours are much more restricted.
The 2024 winter opening hours are yet to be confirmed, but it closes on Friday and Saturday.
Tickets cost £6 for non members and £5 for members, while monthly memberships are £23.
You don’t need to pre-book although this is advised during the busy summer months.
The UK is home to some other amazing lidos.
Shoalstone Seawater Pool in Brixham is one of the few tidal pools left in the UK, and has even been compared to Australia.
It’s cliffside location means it looks just like the famous Bondi Iceburgs pool in Sydney.
How to keep your kids safe at water attractions
Ali Beckman, Puddle Ducks Technical Director, revealed four essential pieces of safety advice to ensure families can enjoy waterparks safely this summer.
1. Follow your child’s lead
“The best form of introduction to water is child-led, allowing the child to play with the water and pour it onto their body when ready.
“Sitting in shallow water allows children to explore, and also gives them the opportunity to turn onto their tummy and crawl through the water if they are confident.”
2. Accompany your kids on slides
“Make sure there are two adults – one to remain with the child at the top of the slide and the second to be waiting at the bottom.
“Never send a child down the slide on their own, not only are they going to be entering the slide pool area independently, they then have to exit the pool and wait for an adult.”
3. Use toys to help children learn
“Children learn through play and they gain confidence the more time they spend around water.
“You can also use appropriate water toys to allow the child to play with.
“Sinking objects are fun as long as the child leads their exploration under water – never force them to submerge to find a sinking toy.”
4. Always stay alert
“Waterparks are often very busy places and it’s easy to lose sight of a child in a split second.
“Wave pools should be avoided until your child is really confident with water going over their faces and you know they are able to regain their feet independently.
“These environments can get busy, splashy and can become quite overwhelming, knocking the most confident of swimmers off their feet and under the water.
“Most pools have a baby/toddler pool which is often a little warmer and quieter, which is a great place to start.”
And a London heated lido has been compared to Spain, with it’s “blaring house music” like Tenerife.
If you want something newer, a brand new outdoor swimming pool is to open in London next year – here’s everything you need to know.
