The Old Swimming Pool – Eastville Park, Bristol The old swimming pool in Eastville Park, Bristol, was once a popular outdoor lido but has since fallen into disuse and remains an overgrown, forgotten site within the park. History & Use Built in the early 20th century, the pool was designed as a public outdoor swimming facility for Bristol residents. It became a popular summer destination, particularly in the mid-20th century, offering affordable recreation. Over time, maintenance costs, declining use, and the rise of indoor swimming pools led to its closure in the late 20th century. Current State The pool still exists, but it is now overgrown with vegetation and partially flooded. Some of the original structures can still be found, but they are deteriorating. The site is often explored by urban explorers and local historians who document lost spaces in Bristol. Future Plans? Over the years, there have been occasional discussions about restoring the pool or repurposing the area, but no solid plans have been implemented. Some local groups advocate for revitalizing the space, either as a swimming area again or as a natural wetland feature in the park.
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Reviews
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Yarys ★★★★★
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J Green ★★★★☆
Update 2023: The Old Swimming Pool is only accessible to the public by prior arrangement. I.e if it is booked for a private class or event etc. You can no longer access it whenever you like. Update 2021: Unfortunately whomever is in charge of Eastville Park has decided to keep the gates to the Old Swimming Pool Gardens locked the vast majority of the time which means the public can rarely access it. This has now been the case for several months. An interesting piece of local history. As the name suggests once a swimming pool but now a somewhat neglected garden. You can walk I to what was once the pool and sit on the benches. They sometimes have functions there as well. Unfortunately in the evening you can often find junkies and winos hanging around there but in the day it a nice quiet spot for the most part
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James “Qasim” Green ★★★★☆
Update 2023: The Old Swimming Pool is only accessible to the public by prior arrangement. I.e if it is booked for a private class or event etc. You can no longer access it whenever you like. Update 2021: Unfortunately whomever is in charge of Eastville Park has decided to keep the gates to the Old Swimming Pool Gardens locked the vast majority of the time which means the public can rarely access it. This has now been the case for several months. An interesting piece of local history. As the name suggests once a swimming pool but now a somewhat neglected garden. You can walk I to what was once the pool and sit on the benches. They sometimes have functions there as well. Unfortunately in the evening you can often find junkies and winos hanging around there but in the day it a nice quiet spot for the most part
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Gary Walsh ★★★★★
Great outdoor community space.
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Kai Porter ★★★★☆
Great little spot to relax or just to look at. The various plants and wildlife really bring the place to life and it is situated just down the path from the playground entrance.
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K Porter ★★★★☆
Great little spot to relax or just to look at. The various plants and wildlife really bring the place to life and it is situated just down the path from the playground entrance.
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Kevin Gast ★★★★☆
As a kid this was still a walled up swimming pool and we used to climb over the wall and play football in the pool, it's good to know it's been brought back to life
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Kevin ★★★★☆
As a kid this was still a walled up swimming pool and we used to climb over the wall and play football in the pool, it's good to know it's been brought back to life
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Liam Reeves ★★★★★
Awesome little hidden spot in Eastville park. Great little spot to have a picnic or a few beers. Benches available. As you can guess, it used to be an outdoor swimming pool but has not been retired. It would be an amazing thing to get going again.
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FAQs
What is the address of The Old Swimming Pool Garden?
The Old Swimming Pool Garden is located at Eastville, Bristol BS5 6QH, UK
How can I get to The Old Swimming Pool Garden?
You can find directions to The Old Swimming Pool Garden by following this map link