Sandford Parks Lido

Cheltenham Lido is a heated outdoor swimming pool in Sandford Parks, Cheltenham. The site includes a 50-metre main pool with reserved lanes, a children’s pool kept at 30 °C, and a paddling pool. The main pool water is heated to between 24 °C and 26 °C. The lido operates from March to October each year and also opens for winter swimming from November to February. A charitable trust took over its running in 1996 after signing a 25-year lease with the council. The lido opened in May 1935 with a procession of open-top cars carrying the mayor and dignitaries. Heating the pool was unusual at the time and required staff to stoke a coal-fired boiler. After indoor pools opened nearby, the lido struggled financially and faced closure threats in the 1980s and 1990s. A radar survey in the early 1990s found the pools were on unstable ground with only ten years of structural life left. A charitable trust formed in 1996 has since raised funds and carried out major refurbishments. Visitors find a landscaped park setting with changing facilities and a café on site. The main pool area is surrounded by grass and mature trees, creating a calm atmosphere. The children’s pool and paddling pool provide safe areas for younger swimmers. The site also hosts organised swimming sessions and community events throughout the season. The lido’s restored art-deco features and modern improvements blend with the park’s green spaces.