Based in Sunderland and Whitley Bay, Gold Strokes Swim School teaches swimmers of all ages and abilities. It was set up in 2019 and follows a learn to swim pathway designed to build confidence, with introductory Fun Swim stages that use fins and other swimming aids alongside plenty of toys. The pathway avoids armbands, aiming to help children swim independently sooner.

Lessons run in Sunderland at Southmoor Academy and in Whitley Bay at The Bay. A swim school is a good place for children and adults to learn water confidence and technique in a structured, supported setting, working through progressive stages at their own pace.

All ages and abilities

Learn to swim pathway

No armbands approach

Two venues

Established in 2019

Confidence for beginners

Gold Strokes Swim School teaches swimmers of all ages and abilities in Sunderland and Whitley Bay.

Gold Strokes Swim School

HH Dolphins Swim School

Based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Leeds Phoenix Swimming & Lifesaving Club offers swimming lessons and lifesaving coaching for both young people and adults. The club has been running since 1980 and is affiliated to the Royal Life Saving Society UK, with sessions held at John Charles Aquatics Centre. Its focus is on teamwork, building good relationships and enjoying the process along the way.

A swimming and lifesaving club like this is a good fit for anyone wanting to improve in the water, whether learning to swim from scratch or developing lifesaving skills. Programmes typically cater to a range of ages and abilities, from weekly lessons to more structured pathways.

Swimming and lifesaving

All ages welcome

Coached lessons

Established 1980

John Charles Aquatics Centre

Adult lessons

Leeds Phoenix Swimming & Lifesaving Club offers swimming lessons and lifesaving coaching for all ages in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Leeds Phoenix Swimming & Lifesaving Club

Based in Isleworth, the London Borough of Hounslow Swimming Club (LBHSC) is a competitive community swimming club and registered charity serving residents across the borough. Founded in 1938, it offers swimming to children, young people and adults, with pathways ranging from learn to swim through development to performance level.

The club follows the Swim England development and competitive pathway, supporting swimmers to progress at their own pace up to national level. A swimming club like this is a good fit for anyone wanting structured, coached sessions, whether starting from the basics or aiming to compete.

Learn to swim onwards

Competitive pathway

Founded in 1938

Inclusive club

Community swimming club in Isleworth offering learn to swim, development and competitive squads for all ages.

London Borough of Hounslow Swimming Club (LBHSC)

Based in Telford, Streamline Swimming Academy offers swimming lessons and coaching for children and adults across Shropshire. Set up in 2004 by David Clarke and Rachel Reilly, it covers everything from learning to swim through to competitive coaching and fitness sessions, with teaching delivered by Swim England qualified instructors.

Swimming academies like this are a good starting point whether you want a child to gain a key life skill, are looking to build confidence in the water as an adult, or hope to train more competitively. Lessons are typically structured around clear progress and delivered by qualified teachers.

Lessons for all ages

Qualified teachers

Performance coaching

Swim Fit sessions

Established 2004

Streamline Swimming Academy in Telford offers swimming lessons, performance coaching and fitness swim sessions for children and adults.

Streamline Swimming Academy

Based at Hall Cross Academy in Doncaster, Swimstars & Dolphins runs swimming lessons for children, catering for everyone from babies through to teenagers up to 14 and beyond. Lessons take place year round, with the pool kept at a comfortable 31 degrees so young swimmers can focus on learning without the chill.

Sessions are led by trained instructors, with additional in-water support to help children progress at their own pace. Children's swim schools like this one are a good way to build water confidence and technique step by step, with structured programmes that follow each swimmer as their ability grows.

Lessons from birth

Qualified instructors

Warm pool

Year-round lessons

Free trial

Starter pack

Swimstars & Dolphins offers year-round children's swimming lessons at Hall Cross Academy in Doncaster, from babies to teens.

Swimstars & Dolphins @ Hall Cross Academy

Swimstars Swimming Lessons

Based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Swim Wakefield offers swimming for people across the local area. Whether you are looking to build confidence in the water or keep up a regular routine, it gives residents a place to swim close to home.

Swimming is a low impact activity that suits a wide range of ages and abilities, from complete beginners finding their feet to those who want to swim lengths for fitness. It is a good option for building stamina and staying active without putting strain on the joints.

Swim Wakefield is a swimming venue in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, offering swimming for a range of ages and abilities.

Swim Wakefield

Templemore Aquatic Sports Club

Based in London, this swimming club welcomes people looking to get active in the water. It offers a friendly setting for anyone keen to build confidence and improve their technique in the pool.

Swimming clubs generally suit a wide range of ability levels, from those learning the basics to more experienced swimmers wanting to keep fit. They tend to be a low-impact way to stay active, making them a good option for people of different ages and fitness backgrounds.

The London Swimming Club is a swimming club in London, Greater London, welcoming swimmers of varying abilities.

The London Swimming Club

Aquadots Swim School

Based in the Sheffield area, Eckington Swimming Club is a friendly club catering for a range of swimming abilities. Whether members are developing swimmers taking their first steps towards competition or experienced masters swimmers, there are squads to suit different levels.

The club trains across two venues, Eckington Active on Gosber Street and Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield. A swimming club like this is a good fit for anyone wanting structured, coached training in a supportive setting, from newcomers to competitive galas and open meets such as the Eckington Open Meet.

All abilities welcome

Competitive squads

Coaching team

Two training venues

Events and galas

Eckington Swimming Club is a friendly swimming club near Sheffield with squads for developing swimmers through to masters.

Eckington Swimming Club

Based at the Manchester Jewish Community Centre, this is a 16m swimming pool offering gender segregated swimming hours for both men and women, which the centre describes as the only pool of its kind in Manchester. The timetable is designed to suit a wide range of ages and needs, from lane swimming to free play, aqua aerobics, mother and baby sessions and swimming lessons.

The pool can also be hired privately by families and by school or community groups, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Facilities are all on one level with step-free access into the water, making it a practical choice for anyone who wants a varied, accessible swimming venue in Manchester.

Gender segregated hours

Sessions for all ages

Swimming lessons

Accessible facilities

Lifeguarded sessions

Private and group hire

MJCC Swimming Pool in Manchester, a 16m pool with gender segregated hours, lessons, aqua aerobics and accessible facilities.

MJCC Swimming Pool

Set within the 4-star Leonardo Hotel in Middlesbrough, Juvenate Health & Leisure Club brings together a gym, an indoor swimming pool and spa facilities in a relaxed, friendly setting. The air-conditioned gym is equipped for a range of training styles, and the pool area includes a sauna, steam room and whirlpool for recovery.

A health club like this suits members who want to mix cardio and strength work with a swim and some time to unwind afterwards, whether you are training seriously or just keeping active.

Gym and pool

Spa facilities

Hotel setting

All training styles

Juvenate Health & Leisure Club in Middlesbrough offers a gym, indoor pool and spa within the Leonardo Hotel.

Juvenate Health & Leisure Club

Kingston Upon Hull Swimming Club

Set in Luton, Inspire: Luton Sports Village is a large leisure and fitness centre offering a gym alongside group exercise, swimming and courts and sports halls. It caters for a wide range of people, with activities for babies and pre-school children, young people, older adults, and those living with long term conditions or disabilities.

As a multi-activity centre, it suits members who want variety in one place, whether that is a workout in the gym, a group class, a swim, or a game in the sports hall. Community sessions and options for people on low incomes are also part of what is on offer.

Gym and group exercise

Swimming pool

Courts and sports halls

For all ages

Inclusive sessions

Community sessions

Inspire: Luton Sports Village is a gym and leisure centre in Luton with a pool, group exercise and sports halls.

Inspire: Luton Sports Village

Set on Aldersley Road in Wolverhampton, WV Active Aldersley is a leisure centre offering gym facilities, swimming and fitness classes under one roof. It is part of the WV Active group of centres run in partnership with the City of Wolverhampton Council, with a range of membership options as well as pay as you go activities.

A council leisure centre like this is a practical choice for anyone wanting to mix gym workouts, swimming and group classes in one place. Membership typically covers the different activities, so it suits families and individuals looking for flexible ways to stay active close to home.

Gym, swim and classes

Membership options

Part of WV Active

Holiday activities

WV Active Aldersley is a gym, pool and fitness class centre on Aldersley Road in Wolverhampton, part of WV Active.

WV Active Aldersley

Valley Leisure Centre

Haven Point

Set on Addington Avenue in Wolverton, this swimming and fitness centre in Milton Keynes brings together pools, a gym and studio spaces under one roof. There is a 6 lane 25m main pool and a larger learner pool with water features, along with heat rooms and a spacious changing village.

As well as swimming, the centre runs its own swimming lessons and offers a fitness suite, a main studio and a dedicated cycle studio for spin. A leisure centre like this suits families, regular lane swimmers and anyone looking to mix pool time with a range of fitness classes.

Two swimming pools

Fitness classes

Gym and studios

Heat rooms

Changing village

Swimming and fitness centre in Wolverton, Milton Keynes, with a 25m main pool, learner pool, gym and studio classes.

Wolverton Swimming and Fitness Centre

Set in Middlesbrough, this sports village combines gym facilities with a wider range of sporting spaces under one roof. It suits people looking to train independently as well as those who want variety alongside their gym sessions.

A facility like this is a good option if you want flexible fitness in a larger sports setting rather than a small standalone gym. Popping in ahead of joining is a sensible way to see the space and decide whether it fits how you like to train.

Middlesbrough Sports Village is a gym and sports facility in Middlesbrough offering space to train and stay active.

Middlesbrough Sports Village

Set in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, Trugym is a fitness club offering a broad mix of cardio machines, strength training equipment and functional fitness zones. Alongside the gym floor you will find Hammer Strength plate loaded machines, a swimming pool and a spa area with a steam room and Jacuzzi. Personal trainers are on hand to build workout plans, and there is a timetable of group classes such as yoga, HIIT and spin.

A gym like this suits a range of goals, from general fitness to strength and conditioning, whether you prefer working out on your own or joining coached group sessions.

Pool and spa

Strength equipment

Personal training

Group classes

Arrange a tour

Trugym Huddersfield is a gym in West Yorkshire with a pool, spa, strength and cardio kit, personal trainers and group classes.

Trugym Huddersfield

Run as part of Walsall Council's leisure service, Bloxwich Active Living is a swimming and leisure venue in Walsall, West Midlands. It offers a range of memberships with options intended to suit different budgets, along with activities and timetabled sessions for the local community.

The centre is home to swimming facilities and forms part of a network of council leisure centres across the borough. A public pool like this is a good option for regular swimmers, families and anyone looking to learn, with lessons and casual swimming often available at different times through the week.

Pool facilities

Family friendly

Bloxwich Active Living is a council swimming and leisure centre in Walsall, offering pools, memberships and lessons.

Swimming clubs