Sandford Parks Lido, Outdoor swimming facility in Cheltenham, England.
Sandford Parks Lido is an outdoor swimming facility in Cheltenham with a 50-metre main pool kept at 24-26°C, along with a children's pool and a paddling pool. The entire complex sits within 4 acres of gardens.
The facility opened in 1935 and holds Grade II listed status for its architecture. The original heating system relied on a coal-fired boiler to warm the pools.
The site hosts regular community gatherings such as the Christmas Day swimming event and midnight swimming sessions during the warmer months. These recurring occasions bring locals and visitors together and shape the social rhythm of the swimming community.
The facility operates from March through October for regular swimming, while the winter months from November to February cater to cold water swimmers. Visitors should plan ahead keeping these seasonal shifts in mind.
The facility faced closure in the 1980s, but local residents established a charitable trust in 1996 to save it. Since then, over 370,000 pounds have gone into renovations to keep the site alive for future generations.
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