Shaftesbury Lido

Ticket Prices

Adult – £6.00
Child (under 18) – £4.50
Under 3s – £2.50
Parent & Toddler – £6.00
Family Fun Swims – £4.00
50+ Session – £6.00
Naked Swimming (18+ only) – £7.50
Aqua Wellness and Aqua Fit – £8.00
Cold Water Swimming (14+ only) – £7.50
Adult Lessons – £10 (11 lessons for the price of 10)
1:1 Lessons – £23 for a 30 minute lesson (buy a block of 5 for £109 of 10 for £207)
Pool Party Hire – £80 per hour
Private Hire – £70 per hour

Buy Now

Loyalty Pass

For Adults and Children.

Non-transferable between users and can only be redeemed against Swims and Lane swims.

Buy Now

We are continually looking at ways to reduce our operating costs so that we can keep admission fees low for users. However, rising energy costs coupled with the scope of maintenance an outdoor pool needs, does mean that we rely on our community to make use of this treasured asset so that we can ensure its future success. 

Sessions

Lane Swim
Designated lane swimming for those regular users seeking to get their laps in.

Swim 
General swimming for all.

Parent & Toddler
Toddlers go free, encouraging water safety in the younger generation.

Family Fun Swim
Suitable for all the family. A session where the focus is on having fun with floats and pool toys.

Aqua Fit (for ages 16+)
Combining aqua aerobic exercises with strength and conditioning moves to give you a full body workout. A gentle way to get your heart pumping without putting pressure on your joints. All abilities welcome. 

Aqua Wellness
Gentle Aqua Fit for those who would benefit from supported movement.

Naked Swimming
This adults-only session requires no swimwear! For those who may not have considered this type of swim before, there are many benefits to it. Not only can it help to improve self-esteem but it also gives you a sense of freedom, makes you feel closer to nature and allows your skin to breathe and get that all-important vitamin D. 

Party Hire 
Perfect for celebrating your child’s birthday. 

Private Hire 
Exclusive use of the pool. Perfect for clubs or special events.

Shoulder Season (29th April – 24th May)

After the heating is turned on and while the pool is warming up for the main season. Come and enjoy a refreshing dip or lane swim, but be aware that early on, it may still be considered Cold Water Swimming.

Cold Water Swimming

The Lido is open for cold-water swimming during off season.
For further information please go to the Cold Water Swim 2024 page.

Feedback

Your feedback is really important to us and ensures that we are able to continually improve our swimmers’ experience. If you have used the Lido this season, please consider filling out our short questionnaire.

Questionnaire

About

History

The origins of the Lido go back 170 years to the mid-19th Century and are closely associated with securing Shaftesbury’s water supply. It is one of the oldest pools still operational in the country. 

In 1848, John Rutter, a leading social reformer, wrote to the Marquis of Shaftesbury (the effective owner of the town) with suggestions for improvements, including creating a water supply for the poor. 

In 1852, a new water works was completed with two deep wells sunk at Barton Hill and a pumping station, paid for by the Marquis of Westminster. The adjacent tank that was excavated from the solid greenstone to hold cool water for the steam pumps was to become the Shaftesbury open-air swimming pool.

We don’t know the exact date of when the tank was first used for swimming, but Shaftesbury’s first swimming club was formed in 1891 and for much of the 20th century the pool was known as ‘The Tank’. Many older residents have happy memories of learning to swim there. 

Wessex Water still operates from an adjacent facility on the site of the original pumping station. 

The pool today

Shaftesbury Town Council took over the management of the pool in 2016 and has invested in refurbishment works over the past few years to ensure the viability of this much-treasured community asset. It is the only open-air swimming pool in Dorset!

Today, the pool provides residents with a great place to learn to swim, as well as a range of classes, including Parent & Toddler, Aqua Fit and Naked Swimming for the braver souls! We also offer float parties for those special occasions and private hire for school groups. We also welcome enquiries from clubs, organisations and businesses, so if you have a bespoke request, please get in touch.

There is a spectator area for family viewing and refreshments are available to buy from our café. Plus free WiFi. 

Friends of Shaftesbury Swimming (FOSS)

FOSS promotes swimming opportunities in the Shaftesbury area. Their primary focus is to advise and support the Town Council on the sustainable development of Shaftesbury Lido. 

Founded in September 2021, FOSS is a group of regular Lido swimmers who helped establish the Shaftesbury Swimming Advisory Committee (SSAC). The committee consists of four members of the public drawn from FOSS, two councillors and the pool manager. The FOSS committee meets informally with the council on a monthly basis and have been active in influencing many aspects of the marketing and development of the Lido, as well as come up with and support fundraising opportunities.

Contact Us

Lido Reception: 01747 853181

Alternatively, call the Town Hall on 01747 852420 or email: office@shaftesbury-tc.gov.uk