Visiting outdoor Lidos in U.K. - no 1 - Bathurst Pool

We visited here whilst on a mini holiday staying in nearby Bristol. The sun was shining and I literally found it on Google an hour before we arrived. We travelled 30 mins in total to visit Bathurst Pool. 

There is no booking app, it’s just turn up and queue, which was fine for me and my 9yr old son. It was very hot day, I’d say around 27c, so take some shade (like a hat, or umbrella while waiting in the queue.

The doors open at 12pm, we arrived at 11.20ish and people were already queuing halfway up the car park, and within the next 10 mins along the main road.

Once inside, it’s brilliant. We found a good spot around the pool to set up our blanket and towels. We spent 5hrs here, from 12pm - 5pm.

There are lots of areas to set up camp, lay a blanket down or towel. There’s changing rooms and toilet facilities as well. 

The hole in the wall shop, cafe, drink area is good, but I’d suggest if you want something for lunch, get it early on, as we tried to get a sandwich around 2pm and they had sold out, only pot noodles and snacks left.

Prices are great, a pack of crisps just 30p, and ice lollies from £1.00 up to £1.80 for our magnums (which we have paid as much as £3.00 at other venues in the past)

They also have a little book area, which for a donation you can take a book to read, which I did. The shop also sell pool inflatables to use, and will even blow it up for you with their electric pump (realised this after I used my own breathe ha ha) 

We both loved it so much. It’s nice to feel like you are on holiday, but without getting on a plane. 

It’s great value for money, super friendly staff, and my son made friends with several small groups of older kids, who let him play with them.

The pool is quite deep in areas, and although my son can swim very well, he’s quite short for his age, so he did need the float to sit on from around 1/3 of the pool up as he couldn’t stand on the bottom where he wanted to play. 

The staff are amazing (most are volunteers), helping to run it, to keep overheads low, so in return the entry can be kept affordable.  The cheapest I have found so far, and for the most amount of time as well. Most lidos are around £6-£8 for an adult for 1-3 hrs only. 

Prices are: 

• Adults - £4.00
• Children - £2.50 (over 3 years of age)

No Concessions (Spectators, Senior Citizens and Students)

Cash payments only, they do not have a card machine.

There are lots of groups of teenagers attending on their own, but it felt safe for them, and staff knew lots by name.

We visited here whilst on a mini holiday staying in nearby Bristol. The sun was shining and I literally found it on Google an hour before we arrived.

There is no booking app, it’s just turn up and queue (remember to take cash only), which was fine for me and my 9yr old son. It was very hot day, I’d say around 27c, so take some shade (like a hat, or umbrella while waiting in the queue.

The doors open at 12pm, we arrived at 11.20ish and it was queuing halfway up the car park, and within the next 10 mins along the main road.
Once inside, it’s brilliant. We found a good spot around the pool to set up our blanket and towels. We spent 5hrs here, from 12pm - 5pm.

We both loved it so much.

It’s great value for money, friendly, and my son made friends with some small groups of kids, who let him play with them.

The staff are amazing (most are volunteers), helping to run it, to keep overheads low, so in return the entry can be kept affordable.

There are lots of groups of teenagers attending on their own, but it felt safe for them, and staff knew lots by name.

Suggestions:

-take a water float for the kids to play on.
-take a packed lunch and drinks
-take a blanket for the floor
-take cash with you as no credit machine
-take a couple of towels each
-get there around 45mins earlier to open time to not be near the main road, and maybe a fold up chair to sit on.

We will be back on an annual basis now (we are some 190 miles away), please don’t change it, it’s just right how it is.

This is a community pool, so any money they make, goes back into improving the pool and complex. 

Where to find them: 

Bathurst Pool, High Street,  Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 5DY

Telephone: 01594 842625

Email: mail@bathurstpool.co.uk

More details can be found on their Facebook page as well: https://www.facebook.com/BathurstPool

Thank you. X