It began with a whisper among dedicated locals—and now, across the United Kingdom, a long-silent chorus is returning to life. Across the country, derelict lidos—those majestic open-air pools born in the inter-war era—are being revived with passion, heritage funding, and community-led momentum. That fourth point, above all, captures a shining pattern: community perseverance and funding driving the rebirth of these vanished public spaces.
A Splash Of History, A Revival Of Spirit
Once symbols of civic pride and working-class leisure, as many as 169 were built in the 1930s—lidos offered fresh water safe from polluted seas. But with the rise of cheap foreign holidays and indoor pools, most were abandoned from the 1970s onwards. Today, only a dedicated few remain—but the tide is turning.
The Success Stories: Hope In Motion
Cleveland Pools in Bath stands as the country’s oldest outdoor pool, originally opened in 1815. After closing in 1984 and lying derelict for decades, a twenty-year community campaign culminated in a £9.3 million restoration, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, local authorities, and public support.
But the story wasn’t without heartbreak. After reopening in September 2023 to eager swimmers, Cleveland Pools was forced to close again in January 2024 following devastating flooding that damaged its plant room and machinery.
Despite the setback, the Cleveland Pools Trust remains determined. “Paul Simmons… is looking at all its available options for recovering the cost of remedying the damage to allow the pools to reopen,” he told the BBC, even as no firm reopening date is yet set.
Meanwhile, Tarlair Lido in Aberdeenshire, built in 1931, fell into disrepair in the 1990s. But a volunteer group, Friends of Tarlair, launched a restoration campaign in 2013. More than £2 million later, the pavilion reopened in March 2025, with plans to restore the pools next. This refurbishment is now a finalist in the Scottish Design Awards, celebrated for revitalizing community life and local heritage.
Hilsea Lido in Portsmouth—opened in 1935 and loved for its depth and local character—has also entered its next chapter. Closed since 2022 for critical infrastructure upgrades, the project has secured £7.6 million via the UK government’s Levelling Up Fund.
Planners now aim to reopen it in early autumn 2025—its 90th anniversary—reimagining the space as a wellness and community hub with events, fitness classes, pop-ups, and more.
What Others Are Saying – And Doing
Back in 2023, Positive News described the resurgence as a reflection of renewed joy in outdoor swimming: “a wave of nostalgia sweeping… bringing back the joys of open-air swimming.” Meanwhile, The Guardian heralded 2023 as the “year of the lido,” noting new or revamped pools opening across England and campaigns gaining traction nationally through support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Future Lidos Group.
Country Life’s recent deep dive into heritage lidos reminded readers why these pools endure: structures built with style and social purpose that now serve communities again, including Jubilee Pool in Cornwall and Saltdean Lido in Brighton, both recently restored.
The Vital Fourth Point: Community Scale Fuelled By Real Funding
What unites all these success stories? Community-led campaigns paired with robust funding. In Bath, volunteers raised support over two decades; in Aberdeenshire, a rural activism group marshalled local energy and government grants; in Portsmouth, a civic charity harnessed Levelling Up money; and across the country, networks like Future Lidos and supporting bodies such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund have invested more than £13 million in projects since 2023—putting belief and capital to work in equal measure.
This synergy between grassroots initiative and institutional backing is precisely the fourth ingredient: collaborative investment empowering citizens to reclaim forgotten communal spaces.
Anecdotal Voices: Real-Life Grit And Optimism
Imagine a chilly autumn morning in Bath, where local swimmer Hannah remembers stepping into Cleveland Pools for the first time since childhood. “It felt like history beneath my toes,” she says, recalling the crisp water and Georgian architecture visible in the mist.
Or at Tarlair in Scotland, where volunteer Paul MacKenzie describes beachside restoration efforts and community events lighting up the pavilion he helped reopen: “It’s not just about the pool—it’s about bringing people together again.”
At Hilsea, residents have convened community forums, shaping ideas for sauna evenings, open-air films, wellness workshops. One local planner commented, “We want people’s voices here—this isn’t a swimming pool alone; it’s a civic gathering place.”
These voices illustrate something essential: the renewed lidos are not just restored pools—they are renewed social spaces, healing scars of neglect through shared effort.
Looking Ahead: Summer Sunshine And Beyond
As Hilsea Lido targets early autumn 2025 for reopening and Tarlair plans to restore its sea-fed pools next, excitement is palpable. Even as Cleveland Pools remains temporarily closed, trusts promise progress and transparency.
Across the UK, councils are listening again to residents about reopening Albert Avenue in Hull, building Sea Lanes in Brighton, and campaigning for lidos in Cumbria, Tyne & Wear, Aberdeenshire, and more.
These efforts signal not merely nostalgia but a future: an inclusive, outdoor-swimming future rooted in heritage, brought to life through collaboration and care.
Sources:
The Guardian
Positive News
The Sun
