Come on in, the water's lovely!
Dipping into a refreshing lido on a hot summer's day. Feeling the gentle roll of the waves as you paddle in the shallows. Or simply the everyday joy of laps at your local leisure centre.
Swimming, however you do it, is great for both body and mind. Swimming really offers something for everyone, being as suitable for the aspiring athletes among us as the injured and inactive. As a mostly solitary sport, you can go at your own pace, which makes it perfect for beginners and veterans alike. And the country seems to agree: an estimated 14 million adults take a dip each year, according to Swim England.
Many benefits
The mental and physical rewards of swimming are myriad, and they aren't limited to how fit or active you are. Almost everyone can enjoy the benefits of a dip in the pool. Swimming has been shown to boost our moods, keep the body's muscles and joints healthy, and reduce the risk of developing a chronic illness. It also improves our lung function and can burn between 300 and 600 calories an hour, depending on your speed! One of the best things about swimming? It's classed as low-impact exercise. That means it's gentle on the joints, especially when compared to running or cycling. It also makes it the perfect choice of exercise for those who may have joint problems, mobility issues or an injury. Swimming by its very nature also takes you outside of your environment, blurring your senses and encouraging a kind of mindfulness as a result. The sounds of water have been found to boost alpha waves in the brain, which are linked to feelings of relaxation and creativity. Taking a dip also releases endorphins, the body's feel-good hormones, and therefore helps to lessen the impact of stress. The swimming story
Many of us grew up going to the local leisure centre or trekking to school swimming lessons with kit bags slung over our shoulders, but swimming has a long history that dates back far beyond the school days of anyone alive today. Recreational swimming dates back to at least the Stone Age, and there are references to this form of water-based exercise in ancient literature and religious texts, including The Odyssey, the Bible and the Quran. It was on chilly English shores that swimming as a competitive sport emerged for the first time. The first indoor swimming pool - likely to counter the brisk weather outdoors - opened in 1829 in Liverpool. Fewer than ten years later, the National Swimming Society had launched regular swimming galas around London. The sport first featured on the Olympic Games schedule in 1896 and has been part of the programme ever since. Sea swimming came into fashion during the 18th century, at resorts on the South Coast like Weymouth and Torquay. The rapid growth of the railways in Victorian times opened up these resorts to visitors from around the UK and contributed to the rise of sea swimming as a leisure activity.
Never too late to start
Not being able to swim is more common than you might imagine. Luckily, it is never too late to learn. Most local leisure centres cater to adult beginners as well as children and you'll find a variety of classes to suit your needs, whether that's women-only sessions, parent-and-child groups or lessons at different age groups. Individual lessons are also on offer if you'd like personalised support. Once you've built up your confidence in the water, a whole new world of activities will open up to you. Aqua aerobics, deep water aerobics, aqua jogging, aqua circuits...That's not to mention the possibility of looking into activities like paddleboarding, kayaking and outdoor swimming at your local outdoor water park or recreational lake if you've caught the swimming bug!
The rise of wild swimming
Wild swimming - taking a dip outside in lakes, rivers or the sea - also continues to grow in popularity. According to Swim England, 2.1m people across the UK say they regularly swim in open water. Many of these hardy swimmers cite the anecdotal benefits they experience as the driving factor behind their cold water adventures. Swimming outdoors is said to improve the immune system and increase levels of the feel-good hormone dopamine in the brain. Britain, of course, is the perfect place to try a wild swim. There are over 40,000 lakes in Britain and it's often said that wherever you are in the UK, you are always within seventy miles of a beach. If you're tempted by the idea of an open-air paddle though, remember that alongside the many joys of wild swimming come significant risks. Outdoor swimming is best suited to confident, experienced swimmers and it is advisable to swim with at least one other person in case difficulties arise. Stay close to shore and do not begin by swimming in cold weather. It always pays off to plan your swim - be sure to check the water temperature, possible entry and exit points, currents and tides (where relevant), local weather conditions and the quality of the water.
Further safety advice and information can be found on the Wild Swimming website or via the Outdoor Swimmer website.
Lido Revival
If you're not sold on swimming in open waters, then why not try the middle ground? An outdoor lido sits somewhere between the cosseted chlorinated climate of an indoor pool and the waves on Britain's beaches. There's little better than heading to your nearest outdoor pool on a baking summer's day and enjoying the refreshing embrace of the cool waters. Lidos are once again making a splash around the UK as councils recognise anew the advantages of communal spaces to exercise. The 1920s and 1930s were something of a golden age for lidos in Britain. The popularity of swimming at the time led many local councils to invest in building outdoor swimming pools for the communities they served. In the lido's heyday, the UK was home to over 160 open-air pools.
Where are the UK's lidos?
Many have sadly since been closed or fully dismantled, but of those that remain, some that had fallen into disuse and disrepair are now being reopened and refurbished as the benefits of swimming are recognised. London is home to many classic examples, such as Tooting Bec Lido and Parliament Hill Lido. If you're holidaying in or local to Devon to Cornwall, Plymouth's Tinside Lido - fed with saltwater from the nearby sea - and Penzance's Jubilee Pool in all its Art Deco glory are well worth stopping by for a dip. Further north, Ilkley Lido is a popular outdoor swimming spot while Nantwich Outdoor Brine Pool is the only inland brine pool left in Britain, fed by a salt spring known for its health benefits. During the Second World War, injured soldiers were even brought there to recover. Today the pool is heated to a toasty 22°C, perfect for those who prefer a cosier swim! And the best thing? Many lidos have accompanying cafés - ideal for a post-swim boost of energy. So if you like the sound of improving your physical health while reaping the relaxing rewards of a swim, what are you waiting for? Towel, cossie and goggles at the ready!
5 Interesting Indoor Pools
If you give wild swimming a go, or if you have any favourite swimming spots we've not included, please share them with us on Instagram and Facebook!
London Aquatics Centre, Stratford
If you have Olympian ambitions, there's no better place to swim than the site of the 2012 Summer Olympics swimming events. And even if your goals are less lofty, the three-pool venue makes for an inspiring dip, with an undulating roof designed to mimic waves.
Mounts Baths, Northampton
Original Art Deco baths are often of the open-air variety, but Mounts Baths - built on the site of a former prison - has been offering architectural goodness since 1931. The sweeping pillars and tiled saunas ensure an atmospheric swim.
Cardiff International Pool, Cardiff
This Olympic-sized pool in the Welsh capital has something for all the family - enough space for adults to get a good workout in, and a separate area for childlike fun, complete with slides and rapids.
Newcastle City Baths, Newcastle
Built in a new Georgian style, these municipal Turkish baths opened in 1928 and feature two pools. Following a community-led restoration project, the baths reopened in 2020 for swimming and sauna fans to enjoy. The facility is next door to the city's concert hall, so observant swimmers may catch a few notes of the opera while doing their laps!
Moseley Road Baths, Birmingham
This community pool is the oldest Grade-II listed swimming facility in the country, having first opened its doors to keen swimmers back in 1907. Try out your backstroke to get the best views of the building's grand Gothic Features. Other helpful websites: Swimming.org British Swimming Wild Swimming Outdoor Swimmer Better.org
Now go forth and swim!
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