5 Refreshing Spots For Outdoor Swimming Around Manchester

Laura O'Neill • April 22, 2021

The best spots for open-air, open-water swimming in Manchester.

It’s nearly 30 degrees outside and it’s getting harder and harder to resist the urge to throw ourselves into the nearest body of water.

[Feature image: instahickmore]

Unfortunately, the one thing missing from the city centre is an outdoor pool. Thankfully, our neighbours across Greater Manchester have more than enough to go around…

1. Dock 9, Salford Quays

Outdoor swimming group Uswim hold open water swimming sessions in Dock 9 of Salford Quays on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. With measured 400m, 750m and 1km swim courses, Uswim provides full safety cover in quality-tested water as well as changing facilities, bag store, refreshments (vital) and wetsuit hire. Click here for more information.

2. Helly Hansen Watersports Centre, Salford Quays

The sports centre host morning and evening sessions on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays in the regulated water of the Quays. With 300 and 500-metre length courses, the sessions are open to swimmers of all ability with safety cover provided by the centre’s professional water safety team. Changing rooms, showers and wetsuit hire are also available at the sports centre. Click here for more information.

3. Sale Water Park, Sale

Open Swim UK run four sessions per week between May and September in the lake at Sale Water Park. Dedicated to promoting open water swimming, the group help swimmers improve their technique while providing a safe friendly environment to share the joy of open water swimming. They also have indoor changing rooms with lockers, hot showers and wetsuit hire. Click here for more information.

4. Hathersage Swimming Pool, Hathersage

For those who don’t fancy roughing it in a lake, Hathersage swimming pool offers year-round swimming in its open-air heated pool. Nestled in the Peak District, the pool is over an hour’s drive from Manchester, but offers the comfort of chlorinated water, hot poolside showers and breathtaking views of the surrounding hills. Click here for more information.

5. Boundary Water Park, Cheshire

Boundary Water Park is one of the loveliest venues in the North West, known for its relaxed family atmosphere and warm, shallow lake which makes it perfect for novices. Sessions are overseen by qualified coaches and run on Thursdays 5.30pm until 8pm and Sundays 1pm until 3pm. It’s £5 to swim and there is free parking, changing, toilet and shower facilities, with wetsuit hire available for £5. Click here for more information.