The 30 Best Public pools in Bristol

“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.”

“Really friendly and enthusiastic!”

“Amazing bridge and history behind it, you will have to pay a toll to cross it in your car, and carpark spaces arnt great on other side, just next to the bridge is a path if you follow it up to the top you will arrive at a cafe and the cave entrance, but there is some great shots off the bridge from the top view point”

“You need to book either a weekend or midweek break at Centre parcs, then this is free to use. There are flumes, rapids, hot tub's loads of other water fun entertainment for all ages.”

“This is the best place for swimming in Somerset. Seems to attract the loveliest people, guaranteed calm and relaxation. Also has toilets, changing huts and steps into the river with a handrail and tonnes of parking.”

“The tower is worth the 10min walk from the bottom. The stairs are a little tight but when you get to the first floor, the view is spectacular, with information about locations and their direction. The second floor is a bit tighter, only for one person at a time but again, the view is spectacular.”

“Very fast with strong currents to pull you along. My favourite attraction at the water park.”

“An excellent climbing wall with a great range of routes - try it, you'll love it! The Auto-belays make it feel very safe to climb and push your limits, and it's a wonderful way to do a whole body workout. Staff are so helpful, attentive and encouraging to new users.”

“Went to priors woods with a public transport where we got off at station road on the bus. It took us about 15 minutes to the starting point of the woods. Initially you can still hear the traffic but as you go in further you will be in the wonderland of blue bells! We went there when it was rainy so definitely needs a hiking shoes that are rain proof. The blue bells were absolutely beautiful!!! Highly recommend to see them :) Some of the paths are less labelled so having more signs could be helpful. There was a big tree that seemed to have felled recently on the road so we could not have done the whole path but other than this great walk :)! Highly recommend :)”

“More gyms in one place than I've ever seen, and uni gyms weren't like these in my day! Oh what a time to be alive. And a student.”

“I took my nephew to this park today and it instantly hit me with a wave of nostalgia. This was the very same park I used to visit as a little one with my family. I remember happily walking down Happy Lane, a narrow footpath decorated with creative artwork from amazing people, though sadly a few have vandalised it with white or pink scribbles. It’s an incredible place that holds so much sentimental value for me. My nephew had an amazing time and especially loved the swings. I was glad to see they’d kept the splash pool too. I have fond memories of splashing around in it as a kid, and seeing him enjoy the park made it feel like my childhood smile had been passed down to him. It’s funny and beautiful how life works sometimes. Nostalgia truly is a gift.”

“We headed down to Clevedon Marine Lake for a summer solstice swim – my wife, a few friends, and me – and it was honestly the perfect way to mark the longest day. This time of year, the lake is unbeatable. The water was clear, the mood was relaxed, and the pontoon in the middle was a hit with the kids (and yes, I couldn't resist a few somersaults myself). It’s a great spot for all ages – plenty of space for serious swimmers, but also for those just there for a splash and a laugh. Loads of fair-weather swimmers like us enjoying a refreshing evening dip. I’ve dabbled in winter swimming here too… others are clearly tougher than me, but full credit to them! Year-round, it’s such a brilliant community space.”

“It has a very well looked after pool”

“I was given a warm welcome membership was set up very fest so very impressed with the admin side to and a call to say that it was done my first swim for therapy and they helped me massively nice and relaxed place and environment and a very friendly team willing to answer any questions what so ever thank you to the whole team . Fantastic work and always service with a smile”

“A great place to walk in the centre of Bristol! Queen Square is a beautiful historic park with green lawns and trees where you can relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the city. There are plenty of cafes and shops around, and the square itself is great for strolling or just enjoying the quiet of the city centre. It is especially pleasant here on sunny days. A great place for a family weekend or relaxing after work.”

“Good pints and good people! Cheaper than most pubs and clubs around and always has a wide selection of live music, bingo nights, cash draws and other fun fantastic games! Great for all the family :)”

“Very quiet and peaceful place. Very hard to become a member but it worth the wait.”

“A great leisure centre well-equipped”

“Took my daughter to the accessible swimming session, great staff, clean facilities, we will be back.”

“Great gym, inexpensive, free parking,clean with friendly staff.”

“Like a second home, and one of the trainers Pedro is great would recommend”

“Weekly Adults Only roller disco on Tuesdays at 8-9pm for £5.90 (sports hall floor in winter moving into a larger hall with MDF floor for summer. Plenty of free parking, clean toilets and the staff are nice. Regular skaters are all friendly and will get you rolling if you ask for help.”

“Absolutely amazing rock climbing instructor was more then amazing and very helpful this morning at 10am till 11am and very fun swimming too 26/08/2025”

“A great place serving the community even on a wet Sunday! The library is open and great for the littlest, plus friendly reception staff and vending machines for a coffee ☺️”