The nation’s largest public swimming operator Better has confirmed the summer of 2025 was the busiest it has ever seen in lidos and outdoor swim spots – boosted by record high temperatures.
Between June – August 2025, 542,998 swim visits were recorded – up from 416,847 over the same period in 2024 – a rise of 30%.
All Better lidos recorded increased footfall. Among the ‘star’ pool performers by percentage increase were Abbey Meadows in Oxfordshire – where usage rose 112% – and Woodstock Open Air Pool which recorded a 76% increase in swimmers. Hillingdon Lido saw 51% more swimmers through the turnstiles.
Top performers by number of swim customer visits were both in Hackney – London Fields Lido at 133,040 (up from 117,880) and West Reservoir Centre at 72,674 (up from 65,654).
Better, the brand name for social enterprise GLL, runs 9 lidos in addition to open water swimming at Lee Valley White Water Centre in Waltham Cross, West Reservoir in Hackney, Stanborough Lakes in Welwyn and The Herts Young Mariners Base in Cheshunt.
The Met Office confirmed what many people suspected this week https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/weather-and-climate-news/2025/summer-2025-is-the-warmest-on-record-for-the-uk – with average temperatures eclipsing both the scorching summers of 2018 and 1976.
With temperatures topping 30 degrees on numerous occasions and four ‘official heatwaves’, there was nowhere better to cool off than a Better lido.
Better also played host to numerous community partnership and charity events in 2025 – starting in March with Swimathon.
1054 Better customers took part in Swimathon across 68 Better pools as part of the world’s largest sponsored swim – raising a combined total of £109,000 for good causes.
Among those completing sponsored swims was 8 year old Leo Garnett from Peckham who trained for his £5k swim at Better’s Charlton Lido alongside his mum, Anna Garcia. He is understood to be the youngest entrant to complete the distance as part of this year’s Swimathon.
Charlton Lido also offered popular ‘Solstice Swims’ to coincide with the longest day and shortest night. Over 200 places were snapped up – the event a sell-out with the local community who swam under the stars and were serenaded by the dawn chorus.
Better also teamed up with travel operator easyJet to offer free swim lessons for adults going away this year, following the publication of shocking statistics on the number of people who drown on holiday. To date, 412 swim lessons have been redeemed.
Andrew Clark, Head of Sport and Aquatics at Better said: “It’s been a phenomenally busy summer season in Better’s lidos – and this followed increased numbers during a very sunny Spring.
“But it was the record heat of the Summer that drew people in huge numbers to our ever-popular outdoor swim spots.
“I want to thank our lidos team for pulling out all the stops to meet the record demand and providing our characteristic warm welcome to customers old and new.”
Better’s lidos were also featured heavily on TV broadcasts over the summer to illustrate heatwave stories and provide scenic backdrops to weather bulletins. ITV, BBC, Channel 4 and Sky TV all visited its outdoor swim spots.
Better – who are also the biggest provider of swim lessons in the UK (200,000 people a week) – provided its figures to also illustrate the renewed national interest in open water and outdoor swimming – seen as a huge benefit to health and wellbeing.
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