‘All Year Round Swimming’ at Guildford Lido

Published on: 4 Sep, 2025
Updated on: 5 Sep, 2025

Guildford Lido – open for the winter season. Google Street View

From October 1, Guildford’s iconic 1930s outdoor pool will be welcoming swimmers to take the plunge all year round, rain or shine.

Traditionally, the Lido has only been open during the summer months but Freedom Leisure are making it an “All Year-Round Swimming” destination.

As part of this change, the summer programme is being extended. Instead of closing on September 15, the Lido will now extend its summer timetable until September 30. From October 1, the Lido moves into its new winter programme – and will continue operating all year round, with the usual extended opening hours returning each summer.

Guildford Lido

To herald the introduction of all year-round swimming, Freedom Leisure is introducing monthly and annual membership packages to suit all budgets. Customers can also pay per swim and simply come and enjoy, paying on arrival.

Guildford Lido is managed by Freedom Leisure, one of the UK’s leading not-for-profit leisure trusts, on behalf of Guildford Borough Council. Facilities at the pool include an on-site café.

“Swimming in the Lido is something truly special,” says Finley Broekhuizen, general manager of Guildford Lido. “There’s nothing like the crisp autumn air combined with warm, welcoming water. It’s a fantastic way to stay active and enjoy the outdoors, whatever the season.”

Cllr Catherine Houston

Catherine Houston (Lib Dem, Shalford), lead councillor for Leisure, added: “This is a brilliant example of how Guildford Borough Council is working with our partners to bring more value to our community. The Lido provides much-loved outdoor swimming and I’m thrilled to hear it will be opening year-round with immediate effect and at no extra cost to the council or tax-payers.

“Year-round outdoor swimming is something that the council has been asked about for many years and I am pleased that we’ve been able to deliver on this. It means there will be much more opportunity for residents to stay active, connect with others and enjoy Guildford’s leisure heritage in a fresh new way.”

Enquiries are open now on the website for those wishing to grab a membership, with Early Bird Offers for those registering before September 15. For more information visit www.guildfordlido.co.uk/.

Responses to ‘All Year Round Swimming’ at Guildford Lido

Nathan Cassidy Reply

September 5, 2025 at 7:56 am

What fantastic news! Personally, the lido has been such a blessing this summer and the thought of losing access to it this winter was heartbreaking. It’s such wonderful asset for Guildford that has such great benefits for the communities physical and mental well-being.
James Markey Reply

September 6, 2025 at 9:41 pm

Great news – glad to read it will be open all year!
A Rummery Reply

September 8, 2025 at 10:02 pm

I am sorry to pour cold water on this (no pun intended) but what appears now to be the case is that the option of buying a season ticket for just the summer months will no longer exist. This used to cost us £115 each as over-65’s. They now want £30 per month for the whole year – a cost of £360 per year – which is all well and fine if outdoor winter swimming floats your boat (again no pun intended) – so we are now left with the choice of spending £720 year as a couple to enable us to swim without having to queue up to buy a swim or pay out £5.57 each (2025 prices and who knows what that will be in 2026 to help fund the cost of heating it during the winter).

So for us, if we do go down the “membership” route we are looking at a 218 per cent increase in our costs for using the lido. It certainly doesn’t suit our budget!