Whether you’re thinking about taking the plunge with wild swimming, or just fancy an outdoor swim while the sun is shining, Greater Manchester and the surrounding area has more places to do so than you might expect.
From old-school lidos with views of the Peaks, to open water swimming in the city centre, to a swimming spot high above the Calder Valley, here’s the best spots for outdoor swimming Manchester, and further afield, has to offer.
Read our guide to the best outdoor swimming around Manchester…
The Farm Club
Swimmers after a slice of Scandi wellness head to Pick Mere, a lake in the village of Pickmere, just outside Knutsford. A beautiful spot in its own right, with serious beach vibes in the summer, the addition of The Farm Club has made it a bona fide wellness destination. You can book onto yoga classes and sound baths, as well as guided breath work sessions, all topped off with a bracingly chilly but utterly refreshing dip in the lake. If you fancy yourself as Cheshire’s answer to Wim Hof, The Farm Club is for you.
Mere View Farm, Park Ln, Pickmere, Knutsford WA16 0LG
Hathersage Lido
If you take the slow train between Manchester and Sheffield, you’ll stop at countless pretty Hope Valley villages along the way. One of which is Hathersage, which is full of pubs, cafes, an old-school curry houses and the pièce de résistance, the village lido. It’s properly old school, with a band stand and an on-site cafe, creating the tantalising aroma of chlorine-plus-chips. They really look after this place, and it’s loving staffed by and for the local community, as well as being a bit of a tourist hub. Hardcore fans brave the place throughout the year, with Winter Solstice and New Year’s Day swims becoming local traditions. If there’s a warm day forecast, get this one booked in well ahead of time.
Oddfellows Rd, Hathersage, Hope Valley S32 1DU
Ilkley Lido
If you’re prepared to make the trip over to Ilkley in Yorkshire (it’s about an hour and a half drive from Manchester), you’ll find a stunning lido with views over Ilkley Moor. From May to September you can enjoy a swim in this vast, almost circular pool, as well as bookable tennis courts, bowls and a putting green. Oh, and if you’re over that way out of season, there’s a huge indoor pool to enjoy year-round too.
King Street Townhouse
King Street Townhouse is a residence befitting the exclusivity of its namesake – historically home to some of central Manchester’s best fashion boutiques and architecture. Many come to party, but it’s also the place to go for deeply indulgent treatments like facials, massages and scrubs. If you’re more initiated in all things new therapy, you might want to treat yourself to one of the more sci-fi options: a full body wrap or an LED light treatment. Hotel guests get exclusive access to the infinity pool, which overlooks some of the city’s prettiest rooftops. It’s not one for racking up a distance swim, but if you want to bathe in style, there’s nowhere more photogenic in the city.
10 Booth St, Manchester M2 4AW
Nantwich Outdoor Brine Pool
If you’re willing to overlook the less than enticing name, Nantwich’s open air swimming pool is a lido to rival some of the swankiest London ones. Yes, the ‘brine’ in the name means that the water is salty – very salty – so the best thing to do is to pretend you’re at the seaside. There’s poolside changing rooms, showers and lockers, and even a row of sun beds if it’s a particularly sunny Cheshire day. It’s also been voted among the quietest outdoor pools in the UK, so one to seek out if you like to avoid the crowds.
Station Rd, Holmes Chapel CW4 8AA
Mere
Mere, near Tatton Park, might be best known for its luxury spa and footballer-friendly golf courses, but there’s a much more down to earth way you can experience the benefits of wholesome activities. The Mere Swim Place holds guided swimming sessions in the lake throughout the summer months, so you can have a swim while taking in some of the bucolic Cheshire scenery.
Chester Rd, Mere, Knutsford WA16 6LJ
Pennington Flash
Pennington Flash, near Leigh, is a NOWCA registered open swimming spot, which means it’s part of the UK’s largest network of safe open water swimming venues. As well as being safe and well looked after, it’s also in the middle of a stunning nature reserve full of incredible wildlife. Sessions run every Saturday morning throughout the whole year, whether you’re after a quick dip or training for a triathlon. This is one to dig your wetsuit out for, unless you’re particularly hardcore.
Green Ln, Lowton, Warrington WA3 1BJ
Gaddings Dam
Gaddings Dam, which is more colloquially known as Tod Beach, is a Victorian era mill dam on the top of a hill, where on summer days it can feel like you’re swimming (or sunbathing) on top of the world. Not for the faint of heart, there’s a 30 minute rocky scramble up a hill, which plateaus into a rugged moor at the top. There aren’t any facilities up there, but that doesn’t stop people making the journey. Oh and there’s a pub – The Shepherd’s Rest – at the foot of the hill with panoramic views of the valley and a variety of ales to reward you for your hard work afterwards. There’s even an award-winning feature documentary about it, which is well worth watching.
Lumbutts Rd, Todmorden OL14 6JJ
Salford Quays
While the idea of swimming in Salford Quays might have seemed unthinkable a couple of decades ago, a huge clean up effort ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 has made it a possibility, and one that loads of people take advantage of every weekend. There’s a peak and off-peak season, but you can find opportunities to swim all year round, and the whole thing is overseen by professionals. This is one for dedicated swimmers though – you have to swim in 300m or 500m loops.
Salford Quays, Dock 8, Salford, Manchester M50 3AZ
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