Tinside Lido

Tinside Lido Reading Tom / CC BY 2.0

Tinside Lido is a famous outdoor swimming pool complex located on the waterfront in Plymouth. It holds historical significance as a Grade II listed building, adorning the city’s edge to the English Channel.

The lido was opened in 1935 having been designed by the architect John Wibberley. It features an iconic Art-Deco style, with sleek lines, curved edges, and a stunning white façade. The design was influenced by the “ocean liner aesthetic” renowned during that era, with many of the U.K.’s seaside towns building lidos in the 1930s as an ode to the rise of popularity in sport and fitness. What makes this lido a must-visit is its heritage and beautiful curves, telling of history in its peeling paint and quaint 30s signage.

Over the years, Tinside Lido has undergone periods of closure and renovation to maintain its historic charm and functionality. Like other lidos, it has had periods when it was abandoned and out of use. Fortunately, Plymouth’s Tinside Lido is one of the lucky lidos that has not been subject to demolition.

In 2003, the Tinside Lido underwent a major restoration, preserving its original features while incorporating modern facilities and amenities. Since then, it is functional in the summer months as a full-blown swimming pool that can be entered with a small fee.

Know Before You Go

You can swim in the Tinside Lido over the summer months. For a more haunting visit, it is best to visit the lido when it does not have any water in it, during the more gloomy days of autumn or winter months.

There are accessible facilities available when the lido is operating, including disabled spaces above the lido with a lift from the street.

Out of season the sea can be accessed from the clifftop via a series of staircases.