Beginner swim lessons in London

“My two children both swim with GoggleSquad Swimming School Surrey. My eldest preferes group lessons, she progresses week on week and really enjoys them. My son finds it difficult to remain focused in a group class so we have opted for 1:2:1 lessons, his teacher is outstanding and has the right balance of patience and firmness whilst also making the lessons fun. We are very happy with GoggleSquad and look forward to seeing them develop their skills.”

“My son has been swimming with Goggle Squad since November and is really enjoying it. His confidence around the water has always been great but he’s been making rapid progress with the actual swimming since starting. The small classes with children of similar age really allow the teacher to focus on each child individually and the pool facilities are great too!”

“I am glad my kids joined the ISA. I feel it is rare to find a swimming place that gives your children one to one session. Most places provide group sessions, therefore it's great ISA exist. My kids teacher Yasmine is a great teacher she engages the kids during the lesson in a fun way and is also aware every child different learning needs.”

“We have had our children at Minnows for 6 years and to see them progress to fantastic swimmers has been great. Justine and the team do a great job in encouraging them, whilst also challenging them to be the best swimmers they can be. We cannot recommend Justine and the team highly enough.”

“Earlier this year, I enrolled in the open water swimming lessons proposed by Turner Swim at the Docklands Sailing & Watersports Centre, and have really enjoyed them. Coaches Thomas & Andrew were very approachable and knowledgeable, which helped me gain confidence in doing open water swimming for the first time. Over the 6 sessions together, I gained enough confidence in my swimming abilities to enroll for the annual 1 mile swim they organize. Having only recently learning swimming, I have been pleased with that. I highly recommend these lessons, and working with Coach Thomas & Andrew more generally - in a pool or at the Docklands Centre. I am now a regular at the Centre during the open season. Thomas, Andrew: Thank you for your guidance & help!”

“Claire is an excellent swim teacher and our son has shown consistent improvement in confidence, attentiveness and ability over the last 8 weeks. She always lets children take the lead on their own development. She makes the basics fun and engaging and is also caring and accepting on those “off days” that 2/3/4 year olds have. Thank you Claire and Angel Swim for a fantastic experience thus far!”

“Have been taking my 6 year old daughter for 3:1 swimming lessons with Brian at Swimming Class UK since she was 3 years. When she started she was afraid of getting her face wet. Now she is a confident and strong swimmer. She loves the lessons and it's a joy watching her learn and grow.”

“I've been having regular lessons from Lindsay for three months now, and the swimming lessons are really excellent. Lindsay has a wealth of technical knowledge and swimming experience that really shows. She also is a great coach, technique is taught clearly and she adapts what to focus on in each lesson based on my individual ability and current progress - this helps make the learning process more effective and learning technique more digestible. Lindsay has a patient and energetic coaching style, and I'm seeing great progress against my own swim goals - thank you! I'm fairly new to the triathlon world, and prior to starting with Turner Swim, I've previously really struggled with swimming, and nearly gave up triathlons as a result. However, I decided to get lessons with Turner Swim - I'm so pleased I did! I'm more confident, and my swimming progress has been greater than I personally expected so I'm really pleased!”

“We really love the team at Seriously FUN Swimming. Our boys have such fun at their Sunday morning lessons and have become confident swimmers. Each instructor at every level is expertly suited to guide the kids through their lessons and milestones. The structure that is in place is best in class and we're thrilled with the progression both of our boys are showing whilst keeping the fun element for them. Highly recommend Seriously FUN Swimming!”

“My baby boy has been having swimming lessons with Fernanda. She is an excellent teacher, and makes both the children and parents feel comfortable. Swimming lessons are always fun for both me and my baby. Highly recommended.”

“Our son is leaning with Nadia now and we couldn't have asked for a more diligent swimming instructor. Our son loves his swimming lesson time on Sundays and looks forward to it with excitement. Focusing more on technic rather than playing in the water. Individual attention is definitely helping our son with his confidence in water. Highly recommend”

“This review is long overdue as I finished lessons with Turner last year - and have been swimming once or twice a week since! :) Huge thank you to Thomas, an amazing asset to the Turner team - Thomas' honesty meant I was fully aware from the beginning of the big undertaking of learning to swim given my water phobia - but he stuck with me through the process and we eventually got there! Learning to swim was one of the most challenging things I've ever done, but I also had a LOT of fun and really looked forward to my bi-weekly lessons. It's a big commitment as a complete beginner, you may laugh and cry, but if you're willing to put in the work, Thomas and team are professional, patient and lovely and will 100% get you there. Hoping to return in the future to learn the breaststroke!”

“Ariadne is an amazing swimming teacher! She is patient,encouraging and makes every lesson fun and engaging. My daughter has grown so much in confidence and skill thanks to her guidance. We truly appreciate her dedication ad positive energy!”

“Great facilities, and very appropriate for children. My 4.5-year-old is enjoying his swimming lessons a lot, and keeps asking when the next lesson will be. The teachers are patient and are fully aware of the different capabilities of the age groups they are working with. All in all, a fantastic experience, and I look forward to my kid continuing there in terms to come.”

“My son is half way through his first term at Great Waves Kenley. He has made excellent progress learning to swim each week. He is given lots of attention and direction, and the wonderful instructors are patient and encouraging. We will be signing up our youngest child very soon. Thank you Great Waves!”

“I would highly recommend our swimming instructor Louis. He has a gentle approach and patience creating a positive environment for my 9-month-old daughter. Louis expertise ensures a safe and enjoyable introduction to the water, fostering confidence in little swimmers.”

“My son has been attending classes here from 3-5 years old and it has been great. They have very small groups and get them used to being comfortable in the water. It is also very personal and Fiona, who I have been working with to manage things, has been always very flexible in finding a slot for Gaspard despite a lot of changing priorities on our side.”

“Both my children attend Seriously Fun Swimming and love the lessons. They have become super confident swimmers thanks to the patient and kind teachers at SFS! They look forward to going to lessons each week and the teachers make it fun a particular highlight being the end of term certificate presentation and “fun week”! I would wholeheartedly recommend SFS to all parents looking to get their children swimming confidently and loving the water!!x”

“Freddie has been swimming with Ariel since April of this year and we could not have been happier. Freddie started as a complete beginner and it blows our minds to see his confidence and skills now, only a few months later! Ariel has been such a gem - caring, patient, fun and always made us feel that Freddie was in safe hands. Thank you, Ariel, for making Freddie's first swimming experience so enjoyable!”

“We are absolutely thrilled with the swimming lessons our child has received at Surrey Swim School. Our child has been attending for several years now, and the progress has been remarkable. Before joining Surrey Swim School, she attended several other schools, but none of them were consistent in terms of coaches, class sizes, teaching style, and progression. Since moving to Surrey Swim School, the improvement has been consistent and impressive. The class sizes are always kept small, never more than 5 pupils, which ensures that each child gets the attention they need. The continuous assessment and movement up the grades have kept our child motivated and excited about swimming. Joe and his team do a fantastic job. Their dedication, professionalism, and genuine care for the children's progress are evident in every lesson. We truly love going swimming every week and seeing our child's confidence and skills grow. Thank you, Surrey Swim School, for providing such an excellent environment for our child to thrive in!”

“We moved to Next Level last year after spending 9 years at another academy, and honestly, my daughter has made more progress in the last 6 months here than in the previous 3 years elsewhere. This is entirely thanks to the incredible teaching staff. From day one, Nikki has been amazing—assessing my daughter, guiding us to the right class, and helping us choose the best swimming activities (and they have plenty!). The late evening classes are brilliant—no traffic, no rushing around. The water polo camp was a real highlight—well organised, affordable, and so much fun for the kids. My daughter learned new skills, made friends, and couldn’t wait to go back each day. One thing that really stands out is how attentive the teachers are. They watch the kids constantly, guide them, and truly listen to them. My daughter absolutely loves going, leaves every lesson with a big smile, and can’t wait to tell me what she’s learned. Parents can also watch the classes, and the teachers are always approachable if you need to speak to them. Communication is excellent—you receive detailed progress reports, but you can also just have a friendly chat with the staff. They are incredibly encouraging and supportive of the kids. Honestly, it’s wonderful and refreshing to see such dedication. Thank you so much and see you soon! Leah & Ira x”

“We are incredibly grateful to 3S Swim for the amazing swimming experience they provided for our children. Unfortunately, we have to discontinue their lessons as we are moving to a different city, but we wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt thanks. Both boys absolutely loved every moment of their lessons. The teachers at 3S Swim not only helped them build confidence in the water but also made every session fun and engaging. Their love for swimming and the skills they've developed are a testament to the exceptional teaching they received. A special thank you to their incredible teachers—Katie, Denz, Enrique, and Adam—whose dedication and patience made all the difference. We’ll always look back fondly on their time at 3S Swim and carry forward what they've learned as they continue their swimming journey. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything. Wishing the entire 3S Swim team all the very best!”

“HIGHLY recommend this spot to swim. It's tucked away in a picturesque location, with a lovely dock with changing rooms and places to store your belongings. There are three loops of different lengths to choose from - perfect for those who are training to complete a specific distance. The staff are really friendly and helpful - they host different events to help test your skill and have 121 coaching on offer as well. Bright coloured caps and tow floats are required - they do have a supply of some as well. Lovely dining spots nearby for those wanting to make an occasion out of it - including outdoor bars on the water during the summer.”

“We had our first experience at Aquabelle this evening, we booked a private hire for one hour. The whole set up is great, a one one system worked perfectly for all. Plenty of pool noodles, floats and other toys for the children (and oldies). Walk in was perfect for the disabled members of our group. Water was a great temperature. We were unable to find the light switch but did have a contact number to call if we needed assistance (was light enough for our swim) so didn't want to bother the hosts. We had a great time and will deffinatly be booking again soon. I read other reviews before we went and did notice one of the floor "crates/drains" when exiting to the dressing room were slightly lifted but this would not have changed out 5 star review.”

“great pool, very clean, so hot inside!”

“Great place in Hackney, was here for the first time. changing room inside and outside, (need 1 pound), the water is great as well as the depth! also the staff is wonderful, if something is wrong they explain everything clearly! I will definitely visit this pool again, and recommend it to friends!!!”

“The Cynet Pool is a good size and depth for the young, beginner swimmer. My grandson had a trial session today. He thoroughly enjoyed his lesson with Alfie, who was patient and progressive.”

“My children just finished their half term crash course, with Nathan as a teacher, and it was excellent! I had doubts about the length of the pool for my daughter as she is already a great swimmer but it was absolutely fine and she perfected some aspects of her swimming. Nathan was very engaging and the kids thoroughly enjoyed the week! Thank you.”

“A fantastic place for you and your little one to get pool confidence. We have been coming here for over three years now, and my little ones confidence has grown so much, a total water baby! Lessons are fun and interactive with teachers making 1on1 time even in really busy classes. The facilities and changing rooms are always clean and the staff are so lovely and helpful. There is a great café with good snacks to chill out and feed after the lesson, and great to socialise with other mums with little ones the same age.”

“I'm so glad to have found this company and to have had the amazing José as my swimming instructor. After coming back from a short beach holiday in May, I decided I really wanted to take my swimming more seriously by investing in new lessons and started to look around for options. Luckily Love to Swim was one of the first groups I checked out and the vast offering of classes at The Crowne plaza hotel made it so I was spoilt for choice on the days or sessions I could choose.. I'm an improver swimmer, meaning I already had some water confidence, but after my first session with José, he was able to really help me develop this even further.. He has a fantastic and very caring method to the way he instructs, great and in depth knowledge and able to see and correct anything I'm overlooking in the different drills that we work through.. I had written off any chance of ever trying or wanting to do the breaststroke or butterfly, but with several lessons with José, a mixture of weekly classes and the fantastic weekend intensives, I've developed both of these strokes to a point where I'm now comfortable practicing them alone in my local swimming pool, as well as being able to tread water comfortably for a few minutes which I was also unable to do. I'm so grateful for the huge amounts of improvements in the span of a couple of months and looking forward to how much better I can become with more of the amazing swim classes. Thanks so much from a very happy and much improved swimmer.”