If you are looking for somewhere to go swimming then here are a list of the indoor pools in Essex. I have included pools which have public swim sessions which everyone can go to and a few smaller pools you can privately hire for a family swim. Essex also has plenty of swimming pools which are private memberships or part of hotels, spas and holiday parks which I have not included in this post. If you would prefer to splash out doors then check out this guide to splash pools in Essex, including Lidos, Aqua Parks and other water based activities.
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A guide to the indoor pools in Essex to take your children swimming |
Timetables for swimming pools regularly change. Check the pools websites to find out the current times for family swimming and detailed booking information.
Non-swimmers are generally asked to wear floatation aids. The ratio of adults to children required vary depending on the age of children and the pool so check before visiting if going with multiple children.
There is a map at the end to help you find the swimming pools closest to you.
Swimming Pools with Slides In Essex
While there are lots of swimming pools in Essex, we don't have many really fun ones with slides. Some of the normal pools have regular inflatable sessions though which are worth visiting if you have older children. As well as the Essex slide pools below, other “fun” pools near Essex are Waterfront Leisure Centre (Woolwich), Britannia Leisure Centre (Hackney), Leyton Leisure Centre and Kingfisher Leisure Centre (Sudbury).
Blackwater Leisure Centre, Maldon
Address: Park Drive, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5UR.
Website
Onsite parking available (payable)
Blackwater Leisure Centre has a main pool with water between 0.9m and 2m deep and a learner pool which is 0.7m deep.
They have a flume which has a minimum height to ride of 1.2 metres, a bubble pool and water fountain.
Run by Places for Leisure. You can register for a free Places for Leisure membership which allows you to book online up to 7 days in advance.
Braintree Swimming & Fitness, Braintree
Address: Charter Way, Braintree, CM77 8YJ
Website
Braintree Swimming & Fitness now has a 25 metre competition pool, leisure pool with small slide and water features. Family sessions in the leisure pool take place every day and in the main pool at weekends.
Run by Fusion. Non members need to register on the website before booking.
Leisure World, Colchester
Address: Leisure World Colchester, Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, Essex, CO1
1YH
Website
Onsite parking available, free for customers if you register your car
on the iPads on arrival.
Probably the most fun public pool in Essex, Colchester has a fitness pool and teaching pool, but the main attractions are the fun activities. These include: two flumes, rapids, crazy river, fun slides, waves, water cannons, bubbles and jets.
Run by Colchester Borough Council. Swim tickets are available on the day from
the reception desk (no prebooking). Wristband system in operation at busy
times.
Riverside Leisure Centre, Chelmsford
Address: Victoria Road, CM1 1FG
Website
Riverside Leisure Centre has 2 swimming pools: a 25m x 10 lane main
pool and 10m x 10 m training pool. There is also a small soft play and ice
rink on the same site, but that's a bit cold to swim in.
There is a splash zone and a flume (suitable for children 1.2m and over, selected hours only).
Essex Swimming Pools with Public Swim Sessions
(and a few private hire pools too)
Basildon Sporting Village, Basildon
Cranes Farm Road, SS14 3GR
Basildon Sporting Village has an olympic size pool, which at times is split into two 25 metre pools, and a teaching pool.
Family swim sessions available at set times everyday in the teaching pool and at weekends in the main pool.
Run by Everyone Active. Create a free profile to book sessions online or via the app.
Becontree Heath Leisure Centre, Dagenham
Althorne Way, RM10 7FH
There is a 25 metre main pool and a teaching pool. Sessions available to book in the main and teaching pool everyday.
Run by Everyone Active. Create a free profile to book sessions online or via the app.
Belhus Park Golf & Country Club, South Ockenham
South Ockendon, RM15 4PX
Belhus Park has a main pool and teaching pool with family sessions available to book most days.
Run by Impulse Leisure
Betfairs Swim Centre, Leigh-On-Sea
Fairview Gardens, SS9 3PE
Main pool and teaching pool. Family lane swimming available weekends, school holidays and early evenings (in teaching pool)
Run by Fusion
Blackshots, Grays
Blackshots Lane, RM16 2JU
Main pool, teaching pool and toddler splash pool.
Family swim sessions available every day, but check timetable for times. To book a session as a non-member accompanied by an under 16 you need to book via reception, call to book on (01375) 375533
Run by Impulse Leisure
The Brentwood Centre, Brentwood
Doddinghurst Road, CM15 9NN
The main pool is 25 metres with 6 lanes and there is a teaching pool too. Family Swimming sessions are available in both pools at weekends. Prebookable via the website.
Parking available.
Run by Everyone Active
Central Park Leisure Centre, Romford
Gooshays Drive, Harold Hill, RM3 9LB (Yes I know this is technically London, but Romford is very nearly Essex)
Main pool: 25 metre, 6 lanes and a 13 x 6m learner pool
Run by Everyone Active
Clacton Leisure Centre, Clacton On Sea
Vista Road, CO15 6DB
25 metre main pool
Clements Hall Leisure Centre, Hawkwell
Clements Hall Way, Rochford, SS5 4LN
The main pool is a 25 metre 8 lane pool and there is a teaching pool as well. You can book family swim sessions in the teaching pool everyday and at weekends in the main pool. Book via the website.
Run by Fusion
Corringham, Stanford-le-Hope
Springhouse Road, SS17 7NB
There is a main pool and a teaching pool which both have bookable public swim sessions during the week and weekends.
To book a session as a non-member accompanied by an under 16 you need to book via reception, call (01375) 678070 for more information.
Run by Impulse Leisure
Dovercourt Bay Lifestyles, Harwich
Low Road, CO12 3TA
Main pool 25 metres
Forrester Park Swimming Pool, Great Totham
Beckingham Road, CM9 8EA
This is a small, shallow private pool heated to a warm temperature.
If children don't take lessons here they need to have a £24 annual membership to book onto the general swim sessions, although they currently don't show a timetable so it's unclear when these are. Private hire sessions are available every weekend and on somedays during the week. Check their Facebook page or call for availability (01621 893700).
Free parking.
Privately run.
Great Dunmow Leisure centre, Great Dunmow
Parsonage Downs, CM6 2AT
Great Dunmow has a main pool and a teaching pool. Pay as you go general sessions for the main pool bookable via the website, but you can only book one person at a time so try calling for swimming sessions with children.
Run by 1Life
Halstead Leisure Centre, Halstead
Colne Road, CO9 2HR
Halstead Leisure Centre has a 25 metre main pool and a teaching pool. Family sessions available at times during the week and at weekends.
Run by Fusion
Harlow Leisurezone, Harlow
Second Avenue, CM20 3DT
25 metre main pool with 8 lanes and a learner pool. On alternate Saturdays they have fun and inflatable sessions. Soft play, trampolines and climbing walls also on site.
Large car park, ask for token when paying for free parking. Call to ask about booking or just turn up.
Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre, Hornchurch
Hornchurch Road, RM11 1JU
There is a 25m main pool, a smaller teaching pool and specialist diving pool.
Family swim sessions available in the Teaching pool at the weekend and the main pool Saturdays only.
Run by Everyone Active
The Lexden Pool, Colchester
West Lodge Road, CO3 3NL
While this is a private pool and doesn't have general swim sessions I'm including it because you can hire it for your family at the weekend on an ad hoc or regular basis so it is worth looking at.
Loughton Leisure Centre, Loughton
Traps Hill, IG10 1SZ
Main pool is 25 metres and 6 lanes and the training pool is 15 metre. Lockers require a padlock which can be hired from reception if you don't have one. Call or drop in to reception to book in to sessions. There are some non bookable sessions at weekends and junior inflatable sessions too.
Pay and Display Car Park
Run by Places Leisure, Places for People. You can register for a free Places for Leisure membership which allows you to book online up to 7 days in advance.
Ongar Leisure Centre, Ongar
The Gables, Fyfield Road, CM5 0GA
Ongar has one 25 metre pool which has 4 lanes. Family swim sessions bookable and keep an eye out for their inflatable sessions.
Run by Places Leisure, Places for People. You can register for a free Places for Leisure membership which allows you to book online up to 7 days in advance.
Runnymede Leisure Centre, Benfleet
Kiln Rd, SS7 1TF
Main pool: 25 metre and 12.5 metre training pool
Sapphire Ice & Leisure Centre, Romford
24 Western Road, RM1 3JT
As well as a large ice rink there is an 8 lane 25 metre main swimming pool and a training pool.
Run by Everyone Active
Shoeburyness Leisure Centre, Shoeburyness
Delaware Road, SS3 9NS
Main pool and teaching pool. Family swimming available weekends and school holidays.
Run by Fusion
Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre, Southend-On-Sea
Garon Park, Eastern Avenue, SS2 4FA
Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre has 3 pools: A main pool is 25 metres and 8 lanes, there is a diving pool with fixed platforms at:1 metre, 3 metres, 5 metres, 7.5 metres and 10 metres with two springboards at 3 metres and three 1 metre springboards and a small fun pool for children up to age 8.
Family sessions available every day apart from Saturdays.
Run by Fusion
South Woodham Ferrers Leisure Centre, Chelmsford
Brickfields Road, CM3 5JU
Main pool: 25 metre 6 lane pool and training pool
Stourwood Pool, Ramsey
Stourwood House, Wrabness Road, Ramsey, CO12 5ND
This is a private pool available to hire to families and groups of up to 10 friends. You can book via their website. Parking available
Swimming Tales, Rayleigh
Lubards Farm, Hullbridge Road, SS6 9QG
Sessions in term time are mainly classes and prebooked sessions, but in holidays they have a fun family session each day, prebooking required. They also have sessions where you can book half the pool for your family privately.
The 15m by 7m pool, which has a depth of 1.1m all over and is heated to just over 30 degrees.
Free parking available.
Privately run.
Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre, Waltham Abbey
Hillhouse, EN9 3EL
25 metre, 6 lane main pool and a training pool.
96 space car park
Run by Places Leisure, Places for People. You can register for a free Places for Leisure membership which allows you to book online up to 7 days in advance.
Walton-On-The-Naze Lifestyles, Walton-On-The-Naze
Princes Esplanade, CO14 8PZ
25 metre main pool and an 18 metre leisure pool
Waterside Farm Leisure Centre, Canvey Island
Somnes Avenue, SS8 9RA
Main pool: 25 metre and a 12.5 metre teaching pool
Whites Farm Swimming Pool, Colchester
Whites Farm, Bures Road, White Colne, CO6 2QF
A small, warm private pool available for small private bookings. They don't accept one off bookings, but you can book for 30 minute or 1 hour swims up to 13 weeks at a time.
Wickford Swim & Fitness Centre, Wickford
Market Avenue, SS12 0AG
25 metre, 4 lane pool. Family swim sessions on Sundays and a few other days in the week.
Run by Everyone Active
Witham Leisure Centre, Witham
Spinks Lane, CM8 1EP
Main pool: 25 metres, 6 lanes and a training pool.
Run by Fusion
Swimming with family is a lot of fun, but it is definitely less stressful when children know how to swim. It's definitely worth checking out local swimming lessons whether you are in Essex or looking for swimming lessons Glasgow direction.
Disclosure: Information as accurate as possible at time of publishing.
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