Part of the WESWIMRUN setup, Swim Liverpool runs open water swimming sessions in Liverpool, Merseyside. You can join on a pay as you go basis or pick up a swim pass that covers the month's sessions, with both one to one coaching and a group intro course available for those getting started.

Open water swimming is a good way to build confidence in the water and train for longer distance events. Swim Liverpool also organises a swim series, including a 2 mile distance that acts as a qualifier for the Cross Mersey Swim.

Pay as you go

Coaching available

Beginner friendly

Swim series

Swim Liverpool offers open water swimming sessions, coaching and events in Liverpool, Merseyside.

Swim Liverpool

Turtle Tots at The Landmark Hotel Dundee

Based in Stone, Staffordshire, GUST Swim School teaches children to swim at The Swim Cave, a purpose-built pool kept at a warm 31°C. Around 750 children take lessons here each week, in small groups capped at six, and each child keeps the same trained teacher from week to week. The lesson programme was created in-house, with stages running from babies through to older children building their skills.

Swimming lessons for young children generally focus on water confidence first, then gradually develop technique, stroke work and safety skills. Small groups and a warm pool can make that process feel more comfortable for little ones who are new to the water.

Small group lessons

Same teacher weekly

Warm purpose-built pool

Babies to older children

In-house programme

Free trial available

Children's swimming lessons in Stone, Staffordshire at a purpose-built 31°C pool, with small groups and stages from babies upwards.

GUST Swim School at The Swim Cave

Swim Now

Based in Saint Austell, Cornwall, Salty Swims runs cold water swimming sessions aimed at supporting mental health and general wellbeing. The focus is on getting into the sea and feeling the benefits of a dip, with coastal retreats also offered.

Cold water swimming groups like this are a good way to build confidence in open water while enjoying the outdoors and the company of others. Sessions are usually welcoming to newcomers, so it helps to check the details and any health guidance beforehand.

Cold water swimming

Wellbeing focus

Coastal retreats

Health questionnaire

Salty Swims offers cold water swimming sessions and coastal retreats for health and wellbeing in Saint Austell, Cornwall.

Salty Swims

Tucked away in a quiet, secluded spot at Elton Park off Hadleigh Road, Bradgate Pool is a swimming venue in Ipswich, Suffolk. The 12 metre by 5 metre pool is available for private hire and is set up for family swimming, pool parties and lessons, with the water kept between 30 and 31 degrees.

The pool has a shallow end (0.7m) and a deep end (2.7m), with a cover in place once swimming finishes. Swimming lessons cover all ages and abilities, so whether you are learning the basics or booking a private session, there is something to suit different needs.

Lessons for all ages

Qualified instructors

Private pool hire

Warm water

Shallow and deep ends

Quiet setting

Bradgate Pool in Ipswich, Suffolk offers pool hire, parties and swimming lessons in a quiet, warm, secluded setting.

Bradgate Pool and Swimming Parties

Grove Swim & Sports Centre

Based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, this swimming school is part of the East Midlands Swimming Academy (EMSA), which has been teaching since 1998. Lessons run across a range of locations in the region, and the academy caters for swimmers from pre-school age right through to competitive level. Its EMSA Babies programme welcomes little ones from six weeks to three years old, and private hire is also offered.

Swimming lessons are a good way to build water confidence, stamina and important safety skills. Learners at a structured swim school can generally expect progressive stages, small steps towards distance and survival awards, and teaching that adapts to age and ability, whether the goal is simply staying safe or moving on to club swimming.

Established in 1998

Baby swimming lessons

Pre-school to competitive

Awards and survival skills

Pools across the region

Swim England standards

Swimming lessons in Lincoln with the East Midlands Swimming Academy, from baby classes at six weeks old to competitive swimming. Private hire too.

East Midlands Swimming Academy School Newark | Baby Swimming Lessons | Private Hire

Based in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, this swimming club has been part of the local community since 1972. It welcomes members from beginner level right through to competitive swimmers, encouraging everyone to keep developing their technique and confidence in the water. The club describes itself as friendly and family orientated, with a structured squad system for those who progress.

A swimming club like this suits swimmers of all ages who want coached sessions and the chance to improve steadily over time. Those who wish to can take on a competitive role, while others focus on becoming stronger and more technical swimmers at their own pace.

Established 1972

All levels welcome

Family friendly

Coached squads

Competitive options

Ilkeston Swimming Club is a friendly, family orientated swimming club in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, coaching all levels since 1972.

Ilkeston Swimming Club

Based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, Swim City is a swim school teaching lessons across the North East for swimmers of any age or ability. From baby classes through to adult lessons, the aim is to keep people in the water and enjoying swimming for a lifetime.

The school caters to a range of needs, including nervous swimmers, children with no experience and those with additional needs, alongside private and pre-competitive options. Swimming lessons like these are a good way to build water confidence and technique in a structured setting, whether you are starting out or looking to progress.

All ages welcome

All abilities

Additional needs

Range of lessons

North East swim school

Swim City is a swim school in Sunderland offering swimming lessons for babies, children and adults of all abilities.

Swim city Swim school

Based in Stafford, Swimwell is a swim school offering lessons for children and families, from baby and preschool sessions through a learn-to-swim pathway to Rookie Lifesaving. It also runs SEN swimming lessons and teacher training courses. Lessons take place at its purpose-built learn-to-swim pool at Kingsmead Retail Park, designed around children's learning, and at Walton High School.

Swimming lessons in small, structured groups are a common way for children to build water confidence and safety skills step by step. Families looking for swimming in Stafford can generally expect a progression from first splashes in the water to more independent swimming, with lifesaving skills as a natural next stage.

Baby and preschool lessons

Learn to swim pathway

SEN swimming

Rookie Lifesaving

Purpose-built pool

Teacher training courses

Swimwell is a Stafford swim school offering baby, learn-to-swim, SEN and Rookie Lifesaving lessons at Kingsmead and Walton High School.

Swimwell Ltd, Stafford

A privately run swimming school covering the Ipswich, Martlesham and Woodbridge area, Suffolk Swimming teaches lessons in a 10 metre indoor heated pool. The venue sits in a quiet rural setting with changing facilities, and there are two locations to choose from in Ipswich and Swilland, both with plenty of free parking.

Swimming schools like this help learners of all ages build water confidence and technique through structured lessons. Sessions typically run in terms, with programmes catering to different ages and stages, including options for very young children.

Heated indoor pool

Two locations

Baby classes

Term-based lessons

Rural setting

Suffolk Swimming is a privately run swimming school serving the Ipswich, Martlesham and Woodbridge area of Suffolk.

Suffolk Swimming

Braunstone Swimming Club

The Chamwell Centre Charity

Based in Norwich, Norfolk, Swim Now provides private swimming lessons for both adults and children. Whether you are learning the basics or working to improve your existing technique, the lessons are delivered on a one to one basis with the club's coaches.

The programmes cover all ages and abilities, including sessions aimed at helping people who feel nervous in the water. Private swimming tuition like this suits those who prefer focused, personal attention rather than a group setting, making it easier to progress at your own pace.

One to one lessons

Adults and children

All abilities welcome

Water confidence support

Multiple locations

Swim Now offers private one to one swimming lessons for adults and children of all abilities in Norwich, Norfolk.

Baby and toddler swimming lessons run by Water Babies take place at Ashmount School on Thorpe Hill in Loughborough, Leicestershire, using the school's heated indoor pool. Classes are grouped by age, from babies under one through to children aged four and over, with each stage building water safety, core aquatic skills and swimming strokes from the very first lesson.

Sessions last 30 minutes and run weekly, with skills taught through song, play and repetition. Younger children swim with a parent or carer alongside the teacher, while older children may take part with the adult in or out of the water depending on the class. Early swimming lessons like these are generally a gentle way to build confidence in the water and spend time together.

Lessons by age group

Weekly 30 minute classes

Water safety focus

Parents in the pool

Learning through play

Water Babies swimming lessons for babies and young children at Ashmount School's heated indoor pool in Loughborough, Leicestershire.

Water Babies at Ashmount School, Loughborough

Dunmurry Dippers

Swimming lessons in Kettering are on offer at H2o Swimming Academy, part of a wider academy with several locations, most of them in Northern Ireland. The programme covers learn to swim classes for children aged three and up, parent and toddler sessions, adult lessons, private one-to-one tuition and aqua aerobics, and lessons can be booked online.

A swimming academy is generally a good place to build water confidence and technique step by step, whether you are a parent introducing a little one to the pool, a child working through progressive stages, or an adult who never quite learned. Structured lessons in small groups tend to suit learners of all abilities.

Kids lessons from age 3

Parent and toddler classes

Adult lessons

Private lessons

Aqua aerobics

Online booking

H2o Swimming Academy in Kettering offers swimming lessons for kids 3+, parents and toddlers, adults, private tuition and aqua aerobics.

H2o Swimming Academy Kettering

Swimtime Derbyshire

Based in Taunton, Somerset, Taunton Deane Swimming Club is a local swimming club whose programme covers both competitive swimming and water polo. The club hosts its own meets, including a county qualifier, and welcomes new joiners as well as volunteers who want to help out.

Joining a swimming club is generally a good way to build fitness, improve technique and enjoy being part of a team. Club swimmers typically train in structured sessions alongside others of a similar level, and those who enjoy racing often have the chance to take part in galas and competitions.

Swimming and water polo

Hosts its own meets

Welcomes new joiners

Volunteering opportunities

Coached training

Taunton Deane Swimming Club in Taunton, Somerset offers competitive swimming and water polo, hosts its own meets and welcomes new joiners.

Taunton Deane Swimming Club

Set on Ransomes Europark in Ipswich, David Lloyd is a large health club that combines a gym with swimming pools, exercise classes and tennis. Members can drop in for a workout, join a class, take a swim or play a game, depending on how they feel, and there are family facilities including a crèche and activities for children.

The gym is fitted with cardio machines such as treadmills and cross trainers alongside free weights and TRX stations. A health club like this suits a range of people, from newcomers finding their feet to regular gym-goers looking for variety across fitness, swimming and sport.

Swimming pools

Gym equipment

Exercise classes

Family and kids

Tennis available

David Lloyd Ipswich is a health club in Suffolk with a gym, swimming pools, classes, tennis and family facilities.

David Lloyd Ipswich

Victoria Baths

Set on Meridian Leisure Park in Leicester, this David Lloyd health club combines a fully equipped gym with a swimming pool, spa facilities and a busy timetable of exercise classes. There is also a Clubroom for relaxing after a workout, along with activities for children and a creche.

The gym is stocked with a mix of cardio and strength kit, including PowerPlates, Woodway Curve treadmills and Wattbikes. A larger health club like this generally suits members who want everything in one place, from training and swimming to family facilities and somewhere to socialise.

Swimming pool

Spa facilities

Well equipped gym

Clubroom

David Lloyd Leicester Meridian is a Leicester health club with a gym, swimming pool, spa, classes and kids' facilities.

Swimming clubs

Swim Liverpool

Turtle Tots at The Landmark Hotel Dundee

GUST Swim School at The Swim Cave

Swim Now

Salty Swims

Bradgate Pool and Swimming Parties

Grove Swim & Sports Centre

East Midlands Swimming Academy School Newark | Baby Swimming Lessons | Private Hire

Ilkeston Swimming Club

Swim city Swim school

Swimwell Ltd, Stafford

Suffolk Swimming

Braunstone Swimming Club

The Chamwell Centre Charity

Swim Now

Water Babies at Ashmount School, Loughborough

Dunmurry Dippers

H2o Swimming Academy Kettering

Swim Now

Swimtime Derbyshire

Taunton Deane Swimming Club

David Lloyd Ipswich

Victoria Baths

David Lloyd Leicester Meridian