Bristol Lido

I've been waiting years to add this pool. I've always had it pegged as a special swim, one for Christmas.

Last week I had a session booked, checked out of the hotel, got to the car, opened the boot and… no swim bag. I emailed with the sheepish 'forgotten my swimmers!' and fortunately they let me reschedule for this week. Later I realised I'd put the bag in the front boot, not something I'd normally do but the main boot was full on the way down to Bristol.

Fast-forward a week and I'm staying at the Bristol City Centre Garden Inn - why have I not stayed here before? It's much better than the DoubleTree! It's about a 15 minute drive across the city centre and halfway up the hill to Clifton. I'm not sure what to expect. I poked my head in to the Lido a couple of years ago when viewing a property directly opposite. It has a very fancy spa feel. I've booked an early morning swim session which suggests it's (hopefully) targeted at fitness rather than dipping.

I arrive to a little queue of dry robes at the door waiting for opening. Good sign.

Parking is on-street and Clifton has rules. I find a space on a side street where residential permit hours don't start until 9:00. It's super narrow; I hope the car will be OK.

Bristol Lido is a Victorian pool, originally opening in 1850. It closed in 1990 and sat vacant for years before the Glass Boat Company bought the site and reopened it in 2008 in its current spa format. They've done a fantastic job, and they're also behind the Thames Lido. There are some great photos of the old pool and redevelopment on the Bristol Lido history page: https://www.lidobristol.com/history-of-bristol-lido/

Into the very fancy reception. I've pre-booked my swim. It's £25 and that doesn't include a towel. Lockers are free. I get a quick tour, then head to one of the indoor changing rooms, and back to the entrance to stash my kit in the free electronic lockers.

Out onto the pool deck and wow. It's just past 7am mid-December and still dark. The pool is illuminated and looks spectacular. It's a 24 metre outdoor pool heated year-round to around 20–25°C. Today's sign shows 22.6°C and, something I've not seen before, chlorine at 1.0 ppm.

There are no lane ropes but they run a lane system, with fast swimmers circling on the near side and slower swimmers on the restaurant side. Three or four people are already doing laps; I merge in.

The water is crisp and clear and, as the sign said, very low chemical. The pool is lined with large blue tiles that look fantastic with the underwater lights.

Given the spa vibe, and not wanting to flood the changing rooms that line the edgeless, deck-level pool, I take it easy. I skip flip turns at first but slot a few careful turns in at the far end as I settle into the swim. Work through a steady 1,800m, then add a couple of 120s to bring the total to 2,040 m.

Swim done, I have just enough time for a soak in the hot tub, the 'Little Clifton pool', at the far end by the sauna block. I would have nipped into the sauna but there's a strict sit-on-towel policy and my towel is in the locker. While I'm in the hot tub the most spectacular December sunrise appears. I hop out for a very non-Gen-Z photo, then enjoy another ten minutes in the warm.

Time for work. On the far side is the very fancy restaurant, open from 9:00 for breakfast. Wish I had time. I try one of the poolside changing cubicles. Each has a changing space, toilet and private shower, complete with fancy shampoo and wash.

I think I've now swum every public-access pool in Bristol, by which I mean places you can book a single session without a gym membership. There are a couple of private gyms and the 20 m pool at the Village Hotel; might have to stay there soon to get it on the list.

Time to head over the Clifton Suspension Bridge to Somereset.