The History of Seaside Lidos in England
The word ‘lido’ is from the Italian word for ‘shore’. Obviously we don’t have Italy’s weather, but nonetheless, lidos were extremely popular, and became more so between the First and Second World Wars, when getting ‘fresh air and fitness’ become a popular pastime.
Back then, there were no concerns over skin cancer and ozone layers. So people flocked to lidos to swim for some of the time, and bask in the sun the rest of the time. Especially when it was unusual for people to holiday abroad (no package holidays).
Some lidos were sadly bulldozed to make way for ugly flats. But today, those remaining are seen as treasured heritage buildings, and many have been brought back to life.
Find a list of all lidos in the UK. Also learn more on the greenest swimwear choices.
The Rise of Seaside Lidos: A Golden Age
Seaside lidos have a special spot in England’s story. When you picture the golden age of these pools, think fun days, bright swimsuits, and a new love for the coast. Their rise in popularity wasn’t an accident. Growing cities, better ways to travel, and a fresh focus on health helped lidos turn the beaches into must-see places for everyone.
The Birth of the Lido Movement
Late Victorian and early Edwardian England looked very different from what we see today. Most folks worked long hours in crowded cities. As living standards grew, holidays by the sea moved from a luxury to something more people could enjoy. With the growth of trains and relaxed work rules, even the average family could plan a beach getaway.
In this age, clean air, sunshine, and swimming were linked to good health. Seaside towns wanted visitors, and the lido became their answer. These open-air pools offered safe swimming and a taste of the good life right beside the waves.
Some of the first and best-known lidos include:
- At Eastbourne’s Devonshire Baths, one elderly gentleman remembers them fondly, where attendants would take your fee, and wear long white trousers! Uniquely, they were made from heated salt water, rather than chlorine.
- Cleveland Pool (Bath, 1815, outdoor adaptation in the late 1800s): England’s oldest-surviving open-air pool, tucked beside the river and still full of history.
- Tooting Bec Lido (London, 1906): Famous for its bold stripes and long pools, it’s one of the longest open-air swimming pools in the country.
Each spot brought its own flair but shared a common goal: to promote health and offer stylish leisure.
Social Shifts and the Seaside Boom
England was changing fast by the early 20th century. Steam trains linked cities to the coast. Workers gained more free time and saved for small holidays. Towns like Brighton, Margate, and Scarborough sprang to life each summer, packed with families seeking sun.
With more visitors, town leaders saw the lido as a sign of progress. These pools weren’t just for swimming. They became local landmarks — places to see and be seen, as well as prime examples of new design and architecture. Bonded by water, people from all walks of life mingled at the lido.
The lido scene helped to shape British leisure for decades. Key reasons for their booming popularity included:
- Affordable travel: Trains made reaching the coast easier for everyone.
- Time off work: Newer laws meant holidays became possible for more people.
- Link to wellness: Fresh air and swimming were seen as key to a healthy life.
- Style and fun: Art deco and modern styles made lidos glamorous places to visit.
Lidos as Cultural Icons
Lidos became more than a way to cool off. For many, they were the highlight of summer — a slice of freedom in a busy world. The bold tiled pools, sun terraces, and snack bars set the stage for new social habits.
It’s easy to see why the beaches filled with noisy laughter and why the lido earned a spot in the nation’s heart. The golden age of lidos was about more than swimming. It was about making memories, finding new friends, and feeling part of something bigger.
For many families, visits to places like Tooting Bec or Devonshire Baths shaped whole summers and left stories that still pop up at reunions. These bright, sunny havens have long been a big part of what made English seaside holidays special.
Famous Lidos and Their Stories
England’s lidos each hold their own story, from elegant Victorian pools that drew city crowds in their heyday to Art Deco wonders that still catch the sun with graceful lines. Some have had brushes with royalty or Hollywood glamor.
Others run on the strong will of their townsfolk, rising again thanks to local pride. Spot the patterns and you’ll see how these pools tell the wider story of English seaside culture, celebrating everyday life, bold design, and a love of simple pleasures.
Jubilee Lido, Penzance
This is a triangular, ship-like pool that sits on the rocks, seawater lapping at its walls. It opened in 1935 to mark King George V’s Silver Jubilee. It boasted ocean views and geometric terraces that made the simple act of swimming feel like an event. Its clean white curves still stand out against the blue Cornish sky.
Clifton Lido: Victorian Revival
This lido (tucked away in Bristol) opened back in 1850. The striking Victorian brickwork survived everything from not being used for years, to the threat of demolition. It has now been carefully restored, and is a shining example, of how to bring a neglected lido back to life.
Tooting Bec Lido: London’s Outdoor Gem
Lidos were (and are) very popular in the city of London, and this one (open since 1906) has never shut down. One of England’s largest pools (91 metres – 298 feet in old money) is known for its pretty changing cubicles, in an array of rainbow colours.
Bath’s Cleveland Pool: England’’s Oldest Lido
Cleveland Lido is England’s oldest (surviving) lido, built in 1815. Near the River Avon, this again has been carefully restored, and is now a Grade II listed building.
In 1867, the ‘eccentric Mr W Evans’ would teach swimming (and provide ginger beer and gingerbread). Often diving into the pool from a height (wearing a tall hat to protect his head!)
After briefly going bankrupt, it has in the years been a place to baptise Jehovah’s Witnesses, a trout farm and a private residence, before finally reopening as a public bathing pool.
Saltdean Lido, Brighton
This is known for its sweeping semi-circular entrance and clock tower. Saltdean once welcomed actress Jayne Mansfield and even held beauty contests, setting the scene for happy crowds each summer.
Tinside Lido, Plymouth
Overlooking the English Channel, Tinside pairs Art Deco lines with dramatic sea views. It has three fountain jets and sunbathing decks, and even local dolphins have popped by for a swim.
Brockwell Lido, London
Opened in 1937, this was a city escape, mixing sharp lines and big windows for a modern, healthy way to unwind.
Design mattered just as much as the water itself. Smooth concrete, bright mosaics, glass bricks, and cut-out lettering turned these spaces into landmarks. People dressed up not just to swim but to show off their best holiday looks, from high-waist shorts to chic swim caps.
Snack bars and sun terraces made it easy to spend whole days soaking up the scene.
Hidden Treasures and Community Revival
While the big-name lidos make headlines, many hidden gems up and down England’s coasts tell quieter but no less inspiring stories. These places often faced closure but came roaring back thanks to passionate volunteers and a sense of local belonging.
- Grange-over-Sands (Cumbria): Quiet and old-fashioned, this lido sat on Morecambe Bay (safer, as the beach is home to dangerous quicksand). It shut in 1993, but locals gather each year for “swim-in” protests, hoping to see it restored to its former glories. Its faded murals and original railings are reminders of glory days.
- Portishead Pool (Somerset): At the edge of the Bristol Channel, this 1960s lido nearly closed in 2008. Locals stepped up, raising funds and running the pool themselves. Today, families queue for ice creams while volunteers tend the flowers and tidy the changing rooms.
- Hayle Lido (Cornwall): This spot may not draw crowds like its bigger cousin in Penzance, but it remains a true community hub. Locals come out for family swims and open-air yoga, keeping a proud Cornish tradition alive.
- Teignmouth Lido (Devon): A cheerful mainstay for decades, this pool sits close to the pier and hosts summer galas, water carnivals, and late-night swims with fairy lights.
Cleveland Pool in Bath, England’s oldest outdoor swimming pool, also deserves a mention. Closed for decades, it reopened in recent years after a huge community push. Swimmers now dip in its horseshoe-shaped waters, surrounded by restored Georgian buildings.
Community groups don’t just save pools but transform them. From painting murals to hosting history tours and music nights, these volunteers build on the lido’s heritage piece by piece. Restored lidos have become gathering spots again, keeping the joy and colour of seaside swimming alive for the next generation.
The Decline of Lidos After the Sixties
It’s almost hard to picture it now, but by the late 1960s, lidos started to lose their shine. Once the pride of the seaside, many pools suddenly felt old-fashioned. The reasons for their decline read like a snapshot of changing times.
- Cheap package holidays: New, affordable flights meant that families could chase sun in Spain or Greece instead of settling for a chilly dip in Skegness or Cleethorpes.
- Indoor pools take over: Local councils built heated indoor pools where you could swim year-round, even when it poured outside. With this, the outdoor pool’s summer-only draw faded away.
- Style shifts: New forms of entertainment popped up. Shopping centres, cinemas, and home TVs offered fun without a cold splash of British weather.
- Maintenance costs: Lidos are costly to keep safe and clean. With lower visitor numbers, local councils began seeing them as a burden and locked the gates for good.
The numbers tell the tale. By the early 1990s, more than two-thirds of England’s public lidos had closed. Grandstands and towers sat empty, and weeds grew through cracks in the old concrete. For some locals, it felt like the end of a golden age by the sea.
The Seeds of a Lido Revival!
Just when memories of seaside lidos risked fading out, people began fighting for their return. Groups of neighbours, swimmers, and historians stepped up. They refused to let these beloved places slide into history.
What sparked the turnaround?
- Community action: Volunteers held open days, history talks, and “guerrilla swim-ins” to show the pools were still loved. Some groups knocked on every door in town to drum up support.
- Heritage groups: Organizations like the Twentieth Century Society and Historic Pools of Britain pushed for lidos to be protected as historic sites. Their efforts helped secure grants and special status for some pools.
- Local fundraising: Instead of waiting for councils to take the lead, local folks raised money through runs, bake sales, and even crowd-funding campaigns. Every small effort chipped away at big restoration costs.
- Changing trends: As wild swimming and outdoor exercise grew in popularity, people started to see the magic in fresh-air swims again.
Across England, hundreds of thousands now enjoy lidos each year. Whether in the heart of a city or along a wild stretch of coast, each pool mixes old-school charm with something new. What started as a fight to save fading landmarks has sparked a movement—one that proves the love for lidos still runs deep.
