Borough	Swimming Pool	LPC Rating	Visit dates		General comments	Best things about this pool	Worst things about this pool
Barking & Dagenham	Abbey Sports Centre	LEISURE	24/05/2005	21/04/2005	Also good to see wide range of sports advertised, and very eclectic notice boards.  Think this is because Council run pool so have advertised full range of sports dept activities (and other depts) not just whatson at leisure centres also run by a pool operator. Fairly new pool.  Small and local.  Just one pool trying to be leisure pool and swimming pool - difficult. / Five lane pool, no deep water, no windows.  Viewing balcony very poor, seats 40 unable to see whole pool if seated.  no windows in pool hall	Very relaxed place, lots of people using pool and sports hall /	Warm water, lack of deep water / No deep water (5ft) no diving
Barking & Dagenham	Dagenham Swimming Pool	HERITAGE	23/04/2004	19/04/2005	The whole building interior and exterior needs refurbishing (the learner was shut due to roof and cladding problems)outside in need of refurbishment	Clear water / The size - the diving area makes it 25m across the width at one point	Slippery pool side / The surrounding area
Barking & Dagenham	Goresbrook Leisure Centre	LEISURE	22/04/2009		The pool although 14 years old still looks modern and everyone is friendly.  Because of where it is situated the only practical way of getting there is by car.  It is basically a leisure pool. Light and airy building and pool. /	Light and airy welcoming throughout /	No lane swimming /
Barnet	Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre	SWIMMERS FAVOURITE (9TH)	03/05/2009	11/05/2005	Very helpful staff.  Enjoyable swim in clean, large, well designed pool with spacious surroundings, good café, helpful staff. Modern buildings, very functional designs / Best pool I've been to so far.  The sort of place you would go to as a social event with a group of friends, although a friend of mine thinks Finchley Lido is better that Barnet Coptall!	Bright, clean, large, functional / Felt like a real swimming pool rather than a hole in the ground with a roof over it and had very good pool discipline!	Finding it, transport to and fro / Notices to say shower with costume on!  Can't get all the chlorine out that way!
Barnet	Church Farm Swimming Pool	OTHER	27/04/2005	09/05/2009	My one concern was that there appeared to be fixed railings only about 3 ft from the main fire exit from the pool.  Or though there were other fire exits through the changing areas I was concerned about the restricted acces to this one door. / This pool was of a very poor standard. Facilities were basic in the extreme and the pool was too short to do any proper swimming. Considering it costs the same as Finchley Lido it's a rip offVery poor building. More like a school pool	All the staff were very friendly and helpful / Not much. Next to a big park!	No pool discipline, people swimming in all directions and off all abilities! / The changing rooms. Those awful hair dryers that don't dry your hair and cost 20p a go.
Barnet	Finchley Lido Leisure Centre	GOOD	16/04/2005	05/05/2005	Information available on web site and in reception Interesting architecture – modern building / Recently improved pool. One of the best in the borough, but not a huge fan of the communal changing room/showers. Recently been refurbished	Modern design and good size pool / Easily accessible by car, light environment, clean water. Quite easy to swim.	Cleanliness of changing areas and toilets / Communal changing areas and showers means you can't shower with your trunks off!
Bexley	Lamorbey Swimming Pool	POOL IN NEED	02/04/2005	09/05/2005	Very difficult to make seem clean when so scruffy and run down. Very scruffy but interesting because it is an old cinema / The pool will close next year. It's an old pool struggling to look dignified the changing rooms are on two floors, the lockers below stairs and the shower above. This is a serious mistake in design.	Seeing children having diving lesson / Brenda liked the temperature of the water - I hated it	State of changing rooms / The Pool Hall is grotty. I was there only by day, so, as there are some nice windows it was bright, but I fear that it looks sad at night.
Bexley	Riverside Swimming Centre	GOOD	25/04/2005		Newly opened. Signage in rest of building was poor. Tiny signs on doors or printed off A4 laminated paper ones. No signs for what was upstairs. Apparently there's a café but I only found what looked like a pub /	brand new so clean and modern /	soul-less, no noticeboards about community activities, viewing area was glassed in and just had vending machines. Like a airport lounge or hotel pool. Missed a real opportunity to put in lots more windows for natural light in the pool. /
Bexley	Splashworld Swimming Centre	LEISURE
Brent	Vale Farm Sports Centre	POOL IN NEED	13/01/2005	Date not recorded	It needs a general overhaul. Cyclical decs /	Not a lot of people in the pool /	the chlorine was a bit of a strong smell /
Bromley	The Pavilion Leisure Centre	LEISURE	09/04/2005		Very good idea to build pool under shopping centre.  Lots of dads with kids, very very busy.  But is leisure pool, and while might be 25m, no good at any time for adult swimming.Part of shopping centre - 80's supermarket type architecture /	Loads of kids splashing and having great fun - good to have such a place in shopping centre /	Hopeless for swimming - can only do widths next to wave machine /
Bromley	The Spa at Beckenham	GOOD	07/05/2005	07/05/2005	This is an eight lane pool which is clearly divided into two halves, one for open swimming (?swimtime?) and the other set up in three over-width lanes designated slow, medium and fast, separated by large anti-wave lane ropes. The five metre red sections at the ends of these make up for the lack of backstroke flags during public sessions. This is a modern high-quality pool which has been designed from the word go for access by disabled people and as a flagship facility for the borough of Bromley and base for Beckenham Swimming Club.	EASY TO USE, SHOO THE SHOES POLICY / The best thing about this pool is that it has clearly been designed for swimmers and makes you want to swim there!	SHALLOW MAIN POOL, PRICE, WHY 3.80? / The worst thing about this pool was how long it took to drive home on Lewisham's congested roads (journey out, 20 mins, journey back, 40 minutes)
Bromley	Walnuts Leisure Centre	GOOD	Date not recorded	07/05/2005	On previous visits to this pool, the swimming lanes have been given over to clubs etc, with no alternative being made to public swimmers other than moving across into general pool where 9 times out of 10 there are children and families splashing and playing in your way, making it impossible to get a good swim in.  I think the pool manager should run an extra lane for public members when this occursNew lighting outside would be better and cctv / HIDDEN A BIT BEHIND A SHOPPING CENTRE, NOT THAT WELL SIGNED.	Brightness from windows running alongside with sunshine coming in / GOOD CAFÉ, GOOD POOL HALL, NOVEL CHANGING ROOM LAYOUT.	A touch too cold / TEMPERAMENTAL LOCKERS.
Bromley	West Wickham Pools	SWIMMERS FAVOURITE TOP 3	04/04/2005	07/05/2005	Pool like this in Hackney please! Refurbished pool, some less well maintained parts, but in general in excellent condition, clean, lively and friendly - though seemed a bit clubby. / INTRODUCING SHOO THE SHOES FOOTWEAR POLICY. NICE OLD BUILDING	Swimmers pool, despite so full, good etiquette and great swim.  Swimmers place club atmosphere / NICE BRIGHT POOL HALL, EASY ACCESS. SPRINGBOARD SESSIONS.	Narrow lanes - difficult to overtake / SOME CHANGING BOOTHS ARE A BIT WORN DOWN
Camden	Kentish Town Sports Centre	HERITAGE	24/01/2005	Date not recorded	Whole buidling a bit shabby /	Size of pools, sauna was good, ease of transport access near tube, buses and overground /	really dirty, very busy, building very shabby /
Camden	Oasis Sports	SWIMMERS FAVOURITE (10TH)	12/05/2005	22/04/2005	Pool refurb announced / With a sunbathing terrace area and a deep outdoor pool open all year this really is an Oasis in the heart of London. Recent refurbished has transformed reception but changing room still basic	Two pools one outside / Calm and tranquility in the middle of Central London	Very  run down and need of refurbishment to get to some areas quite a maze / Narrow width with no leisure swim section
City of London	Golden Lane Leisure Centre	OTHER	18/01/2005	Date not recorded	Clean and well maintained /	Friendly atmosphere, clean, welcoming small and compact / Good layout, easy access from reception to changing to pool	Bit small, not good for children / Showers were rubbish
City of London	Parliament Hill Fields Lido	LIDO	CLOSED
Croydon	New Addington Pool	SWIMMERS FAVOURITE (6TH)	20/04/2005	09/05/2005	NO, FAIRLY MODERN	Location - in centre of a large housing estate / VERY CLEAN WATER, GOOD SPECTATOR AREA	0 / RUST IN SHOWER AREA
Croydon	Purley Pool and Fitness Centre	CLOSED	11/04/2005		The pool is currently closed - until July 2005 - due to 'urgent health and safety issues' (local press 9.4.05)1970's build  /	Welcoming, and lane swimming mostly available /	pool closed at present.  /
Croydon	South Norwood Pool	POOL IN NEED	13/04/2005	14/04/2005	This pool is due to be demolished in July (?). Local clubs are hopeful that it will be replaced by a pool suitable for competition as currently this pool is the only one in the borough suitable for that purpose. Current guidelines from Sport England are encouraging wider public access to the detriment of competitive swimming.1960's build in need of modernisation due to be demolished and rebuilt ongoing dialogue with council to try to replace with a competitive venue. / This pool is due to be demolished in July (?). Local clubs are hopeful that it will be replaced by a pool suitable for competition as currently this pool is the only one in the borough suitable for that purpose.	Provides the only competitive swimming venue in the borough /	Due to be demolished with no guarantee that it will be replaced like for like.  /
Croydon	Thornton Heath Pool	BEST POOL (4TH)	14/04/2005	14/04/2005	Very helpful staff, brand new pool. / REALLY ENJOYED THE SWIM, VERY MODERN BUILDING	The children like it here / CLEAN, HYGIENIC, SPACIOUS THROUGHOUT	parking / NO WOMENS ONLY AT THIS TIME
Ealing	Acton Swimming Baths	HERITAGE	Date not recorded	08/05/2005	Victorian architecture / Good quality materials used for refurbishment. Hardwood floorboards and benches in viewing gallery.	Change on pool side: Victorian architecture/style of pool  / Best water I've swum in, beautifully clear no debris at all and sunshine from overhead glass roof. Astonishing its so clean given there are poolside cubicles so lots of foot traffic.  No litter anywhere.	lack of cleanliness but difficult to maintain because of age of building / Difficult to find ladies toilet outside pool hall ones. Disabled/ladies toilet not very clean.
Ealing	Compton Leisure Centre	LIDO			0	0	0
Ealing	Dormers Wells Leisure Centre	OTHER	08/05/2005		Pool has 4 women only sessions a week - have not included these in total for public swim and adult lane swim /	Relaxed women only session /	Finding it.  Warm water. /
Ealing	Gurnell Leisure Centre	AVERAGE	Date not recorded	09/05/2005	Car park is paying from 6am until ?10pm inc weekends / Really well used leisure centre - the busiest I've been to so far. Real shame the deep pool is so badly lit and there's not more windows - otherwise it would be lovely to swim in.	The opportunity to swim 50m: the building is light and in parkland: the café is not fast food outlet / Water clean and tasted ok, not chemical	Difficult to access pool without a car - although there are buses from Ealing Broadway tube - the car park is charged all week inc weekends: the state of the balcony / Deep pool really badly lit so a bit depressing to swim in on a sunny day. Seemed like not many lifeguards for all the swimmers.
Ealing	Northolt Swimarama	POOL IN NEED	Date not recorded	13/04/2005	Poor /	Near to bus and train / Friendly staff, near to home	car park charges / Cost of car park till late at night
Enfield	Albany Leisure Centre	AVERAGE	18/01/2005	Date not recorded	Fairly practical - not beautiful / Modern, new, excellent community pool.	Accessibility/cleanliness /	Information leaflets unclear /
Enfield	Arnos Pool	AVERAGE	24/04/2005	Date not recorded	0	It didn't cost me anything to get in!!! /	Those showers that turn themselves off too quickly! /
Enfield	Edmonton Leisure Centre	POOL IN NEED	Date not recorded	03/04/2005	1970s, ROOF UNDER REPAIR…TO BE KNOCKED DOWN IN 2006. /	Friendly, well run, community based leisure centre. Diving pit. / Very friendly and capable staff. 5m diving pool - albeit only open 1.5hrs Sat/Sun	Lift out of order and changing on 1st floor. Not easy with pram. Attendants helped. Changing room drain grates grubby and smelly. Annoying tokens from reception for lockers - easy to miss signs informing you of this.
Enfield	Southbury Leisure Centre	GOOD	Date not recorded	02/05/2005	Built 2002, modern, spacious, multi-facilities. Excellent example of community centre. Well constructed, gabled steel roof. Small pool, well used. / Modern and practical (austere)	Free large car park, very clean, creche	Main pool out of action due to small aerobics class. Awkward changing. No diving
Enfield	Southgate Leisure Centre	POOL IN NEED	22/01/2005	17/03/2005	Bright décor, solid mid-1960s architecture. / No awards here! Enormous shoe box	No plans for demolition. Phil McMillan MBE Swimming for the Disabled found at Southgate. / Leaving	The sweaty temperature
Greenwich	Arches Leisure Centre	HERITAGE	20/05/2005		The Arches is an original mid 1930's Borough Swimming Pool. During the late 80's it was closed and converted into a Leisure Centre. It is quite welcomiing and has many facilities. The larger of the two pools was converted into a Leisure Pool a with flume and water jets. The smaller of the two original pools was left pretty much as it was with the original wooden changing lockers around the edge of the Pool and redesignated the Fitness Pool. Today the leisure pool was shut because it was 'too hot' since 'they had bought a new thermostat'. Consequently I could only view it from afar. The comments above refer to the Fitness Pool. Literature claims that it is fully Accessible for WheelchairsReasonably well maintained building with some areas showing signs of age. The Leisure pool has been thoughtfully reconstructed in the late 80's /	Good water quality and without the schools it would be a good size pool for swimming /	All parking is on street pay and display. /
Greenwich	Eltham Pools	HERITAGE	25/04/2005	Date not recorded	Small pool in a separate room looked popular - with cubicals all round the sides for changing.  And excellent hydro poolold pool in need of general refurbishment and decorating /	Clean water/very good disabled changing and shower and pool facility /	Rough concrete steps access between pool and changing area /
Greenwich	Thamesmere Leisure Centre	LEISURE	24/04/2005	Date not recorded	What a waste of a location - could have enormous glass windows overlooking river, instead feels like being inside club with darkened windows, little natural light and big blue spotlightsPool on riverside, with grassy space around - completely wasted - could be fabulous, but looks like a neighbourhood office /	Made lane for training during public sessions, very wide pool enables this to be option /	Lack of deep water, but bit murky standardised pool /
Greenwich	Waterfront Leisure Centre	LEISURE	08/04/2005		A 9 year old swimmer unable to do swimming as lifeguard refused to let her go beyond 'cork rope' (with adult) because he claimed her crawl was doggy paddle and area in front of cork rope too busy and shallow to do any swimming. Visibly old and rusty in many places inside /	1.The anaconda shute.  2. Free for children during holidays /	1. Child poo in the baby pool.  2. Over zealous lifeguards /
Hackney	Britannia Leisure Centre	LEISURE	13/04/2005		0	Family friendly /	Can get very crowded /
Hackney	Kings Hall Leisure Centre	HERITAGE	14/03/2005	25/02/2005	Most changing rooms are too small for my daughter and I together and I'm only a size 12. / It was very busy in reception and in the pool because it was the easter holidays and the kids swim free scheme was going on. There was a lot of confusion in reception about whether the pool was open and to who - three girls before me in the queue were told the pool was closed until 2pm but it was full of kids when I got in and when I left at 1pm. A woman I spoke to in the pool said she had been told at reception the pool was closed for an aerobics class but when she'd gone round to the poolside so her grandkids could look at the pool and decide if they wanted to come back later, the pool attentant had told her that she and her two grandchildren were welcome to come in and there wasn't an aerobics class.	Not very busy first thing / Fun to see lots of kids enjoying the swimming pool	Area between pool/showers and changing rooms is freezing and floor dirty / Cold swim in crowded pool with little control from pool attendant (people ignoring lane swimming advice in the 2 lanes)
Hammersmith & Fulham	Fulham Pools	AVERAGE	Date not recorded	07/05/2005	Had to ask for the information for Hammersmith and Fulham pools as no leaflets were avaliable. Also I have noticed that the majority of people who use the pool are middle class. I do not know whether this is by design. / A silly idea if private management have no interest in making it easy for swimmers, not a community pool.	New Purpose facilities, which are clean and good for swimming /	Run by Holmes Place. Feeling slightly 2nd class when walking past the Holmes place reception to the pool reception / SHALLOW, SKINNY LANES, SECOND RATE TO HOLMES PLACE MEMBERS.
Hampstead Ponds	Hampstead Ponds	LIDO			0	0	0
Haringey	Park Road Pools	SWIMMERS FAVOURITE TOP 3	29/01/2005	20/04/2005	A little shabby but not too bad / Best pool we've visited in London. Lido looks fun. Dated and austere.	Very helpful staff and the outdoor pool in the summer is a real bonus / Great atmosphere, superb facilities, helpful staff	Sauna area alternates between male and female between days / Inadequate seating for a drink after swim. No food/drink allowed in galleries. No so easy to get to.
Haringey	Tottenham Green Leisure Centre	AVERAGE	05/03/2005	13/05/2005	Pay and display enforcement a bit keen. We got clamped being 10mins over. :( Timetables a bit confusing / Pool has very good facilities, but standards of cleanliness could be better.  Changing rooms are cleaned most (but not every) morning, but not during the day.  On busy days, litter can pile up and make for a depressing atmosphere.  Also great having the library in the same building.	Bright and airy / Can swim all day even when kids are having lessons because two 25 m pools	Unclear from website that Training pool would be closed to public Sat 9am / Changing rooms are not as well looked after as they should be.
Harrow	Aspire	GOOD	10/04/2005	07/05/2005	The pool has floor to ceiling windows on 2 sides that overlook nicely landscaped gardens / Very accessible to disabled people	It felt genuinely accessible for people in wheelchairs not just DDA compliant and that has lots of benefits for other groups like families who can also use the big changing cubicles; kids and people swimming after operations who can use the ramp to walk up to get out (the ramp is also fun to swim up). Also on a bright day the pool sparkles from 2 walls being made entirely of windows. / Access and lighting	The changing rooms feel quite dark and enclosed.  /
Harrow	Harrow Leisure Centre	AVERAGE	11/04/2005	10/04/2005	It's a massive leisure complex with lots of activities on offer for all ages and abilities.  The whole centre was bustling with people and both pools were very busy.  Unfortunately the outdoor pool is derelict.  It looks as though it hasn't been used for some years and is fenced off, the sauna and steam room are also out of use, they're located outside near the pool.  There was also a funnel slide that's now out of action, the pool underneath it is empty and the area has been blocked off.Very large leisure complex with  large grounds for outdoor activities.  The overall appearance of the building from outside is clean and well maintained. / Amazing customer service - person who answered the phone went to look at noticeboards to try to track down details of swimming clubs for me. Nicely laid out reception area, other activities clearly signposted.	The changing rooms are quite new / Big pool, masses of lockers and cubicles. Staff were friendly and really helpful.	The overall cleanliness isn't very good / Water cleanliness was terrible. Toilets were unclean too.
Harrow	Hatch End Swimming Pool	POOL IN NEED	12/04/2005	11/04/2005	Very basic pool.  Didn't encourage me to want to go back again. / The pool itself is quite old and needs cleaning or resurfacing, the effect of the worn away surface under the water makes it look dirty.  The pool is mainly used for school swimming lessons, but they have made good use of the timetable when schools aren't using it.  The layout of the building is quite unusual.  The reception area is accessed around one side of the building next to the male and disabled changing rooms and the female changing area is back passed the front ot the building and around the other side.  It's located near palying fields and the area does'nt feel very secure, it wouldn't be inviting to go there after dark due to the layout.  There is no security in the changing areas as there is no one on the door and anyone can walk in.  As the lockers were too small i took my belongings to the pool area, which the lifeguard didn't seem to mind.  There was a woman in the changing area who was a regular swimmer and she said people usually pay the life guard, and advised against leaving valuables in the changing area as things had gone missing.Very small building housing just the pool.  It looks a bit run down and neglected from the outside, almost derelict , particularly around the corner at the entrance to female changing room	Not too crowded / There's only the pool, very simple.  Ideal local pool	Not easy to find within the arts complex. / In need of refurbishment or at least redecoration
Havering	Central Park Pool	BEST POOL (10TH)	28/01/2005	25/04/2005	Changing facilities are very good. Also poolside drinking water, which should be standard. Adjacent all-weather pitch and parking under construction. Current parking a bit of a rough ride. Temporary car park not well signed. / The pool is in a high crime area and is currently being guarded by private security which will stop when the car park is completed.  It will probably then suffer vandalism as occurred in the old pool on the same site.  We shall see. This pool is only a few months old, so everything is OK.	Cleanliness, nice open, mixed poolside changing 'village'. / The newness and water	A bit on the small side. The former pool was twice as long. / The baby pool can only take 25 bodies at a time so visits are timed
Havering	Chafford Sports Complex	POOL IN NEED	16/04/2005	21/04/2005	From outside looks like light industrial units.  No signs. /	Trip out of london - in fields /	No showers / Council unwilling to spend money on a new boiler
Havering	Hornchurch Sports Centre	GOOD	20/01/2005	22/04/2005	Opening hours may vary during school holidays. Ladies changing room (wetside) and men's (dryside) currently being refurbished. Reception said should be done in a week. Women currently changing in dryside and men in wetside changing rooms. / In the dark the pool surround and carpark are not safe. The interior has been refurbished to a high standard.	Cheap, not too crowded. / The refurbishment has changed it for the better	Building work in progress / No lane swimming for public
Hillingdon	Hayes Pool	AVERAGE	24/04/2005	Date not recorded	Apparently about to be redeveloped into a leisure complex with library etc /	Actually a nice pool to train in - depth of water at deep end meant it didn't get too messy from other swimmers, first pool I've actually stayed in to swim for a while /	Filthy footbaths to walk through that I'm still having nightmares about - full of hair clumps, soggy loo paper etc. Lots of scary signs about veruccas and other communicable skin diseases! /
Hillingdon	Highgrove Pool	AVERAGE	10/04/2005	03/05/2005	Highgrove is a well run pool.  There are plenty of activities for all ages and abilities, making the best use of the timetable of the pool.  Sadly though, the pool changing rooms are very dirty and haven't been decorated for some years.  But as the building has a new extension for the gym and fitness area, which has been planned and laid out really well, there must be plans to renovate the pool area.  Although the pool could be accessed from the new changing rooms, which are very clean and well equipped, it's not a direct route and would probably be against health and safety regs.The original building is a bit grubby, but there is a new building on the side with a gym and various fitness classes, built in the same style as the main building  /	The size of the pool, the deep end is over 12 feet / Great pool, very deep water - clean clear water	Cleanliness of the changing rooms is very poor / Nothing particularly bad - just generally a bit run down
Hillingdon	Yiewsley	POOL IN NEED	03/05/2005	Date not recorded	This is just one big room - receptionist kind of does lifeguarding as well /	The 18 unaccompanied children were having a ball /	Water not that clean /
Hounslow	Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre	LEISURE	02/04/2005		Would be a lot better with improved changing area. Appalling changing area, no natural light or ventilation. /	Popular, well run. /	Shallow lane pool and smell in changing area. /
Hounslow	Feltham Airparcs Leisure Centre	POOL IN NEED	23/04/2005	07/05/2005	Motorway service station architecture	Water slide, for kids. / Friendly helpful staff, really keen to help you use the centre	Changing rooms were spartan and bleak. / Dirty toilets
Hounslow	Heston Pool	POOL IN NEED	24/04/2005	03/05/2005	Nice 30s style building, Swiss style reception and tiled interior. / Pool working hard with local community, other swimmers in the changing room spoke well of staff and outreach - but state of building must put people off. Clearly run down, expecting replacement up the road.	Cosy feel, potentially nice building, lots of activities on offer. / Good community orientated pool.  Good swim because quite empty	Changing area a bit spartan and could do with refurb / State of building really bad and horrible and radio played by lifeguards
Hounslow	Isleworth Recreation Centre	BEST POOL (7TH)	02/04/2005	17/04/2005	NICE BUILDING, IMPROVEMENTS BEING DONE. / Basic	THOUGHT OUT DESIGN, LOOKED AFTER POOL, INTERESTING ARCHITECTURE, CLEAN CHANGING ROOMS. / It's homely & friendly.  Both staff and customers seem nice and quite welcoming.	NO CAFÉ! / Saw a cockroach on the lane divider!  (Another visit, there was a spider in pool)
Hounslow	New Chiswick Pool	GOOD	23/04/2005	Date not recorded	0	Clean, well maintained. /	Not that easy to get to. /
Islington	Archway Leisure Centre	LEISURE	02/05/2005		1. There's a £1 operated machine at the side of the pool that dries (by means of infrareds) up to 4 people.  It's great and people do not need to bring too many towels. 2. Pool is very child fiendly and well equipped for children and families.   3. Recently refurbished changing rooms.  4. Air cold outside pool.  Recently refurbished /	Great for children and families /	Totally  inadequate for lane swimming - not enough space. /
Islington	Cally Pool	GOOD	28/03/2005	Date not recorded	Area is plagued with gangs of youths.  Several friends have been attacked particularlly when on bikes.Tiles fallen from wall in main pool area /	Good central location /	Lack of secure cuycle parking /
Islington	Highbury Pool	GOOD	27/04/2005	21/03/2005	A very good pool for lap swimming. The people who use it during the all lane swimming times are serious and generally conscientious. On weekends it becomes a family pool that the kids take over. A good pool for bringing children where you can easily watch over them.Excellent open design that is very light and welcoming. Only let down by the dated tiling in green, yellow and brown. Some floor tiles are broken. / Simple, functional, pleasing, unpretentious.	Large open area, well lit. Well maintained. Great location. / Simple layout	Dated décor and tiling. Can look a bit grubby even when clean. / Crowded, choppy water like swimming in sea.  Lots of people sitting on sides with legs in water so difficult to turn.
Islington	Iron Monger Row Baths	SWIMMERS FAVOURITE (7TH)	Date not recorded	12/04/2005	Lockers recently renewed and changing rooms redecorated, good job as they were getting tatty.  Excellent pool with better facilities than average (Turkish Baths) although I can't vouch for the gym.  The refit and clean over xmas 2004 has given the place a welcome spruce up if not made any major changes to facilitiesMajor internal restoration recently carried out including Turkish Baths. / As a charity, this pool provides a great unexpensive service to the community it serves (mostly students, people who work in Old St, and people who live in the neighbourhood). It is also perfectly accessible for disabled people.	Spacious and great facilities (Turkish Baths etc) / The price, especially for concessions (I pay 1.30 each time) and easy reach by transport	The common showers, the poor hygiene in the loos area, the lack of clarity in the pool water
Kensington & Chelsea	Chelsea Sports Centre	AVERAGE	17/04/2005	21/04/2005	Needs work - it is quite and old building. / Nice	Quite a nice old building and very close to Kings Road so easy to find / Architecture in main pool	It's pretty small and feels a bit run down. / Changing rooms
Kensington & Chelsea	Kensington Leisure Centre	GOOD	14/04/2005	07/04/2005	This pool used to be a 33 metre pool with a shallow and a deep end. It had major works done a few years ago when a boom was put in the main pool reducing it to 25 metres and it is now one depth, which is quite shallow.	Well organised, modern, disabled facilities well through through. Welcoming. / The showers	No negatives, although it was quite busy - a sign of success though I guess! / Large parts of the pool sectioned off for private swimming lessons
Kingston	Kingfisher Leisure Centre	LEISURE	06/02/2005		0	Airy atmosphere, wave machine came on during lane swimming. /	None that were obvious. /
Kingston	The Malden Centre	BEST POOL (8TH)	02/02/2005	24/04/2005	EASY TO USE POOL, WELL MANAGED. / Obtaining information about the opening times as difficult. Information about the times on their website was at least 3 weeks out of date. Features are a dust trap.	FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE AND VERY CLEAN / Access from changing area	NOT THAT WELL SIGNPOSTED AND LIT FROM THE HIGH STREET. / Very dirty
Lambeth	Brixton Recreation Centre	HERITAGE	04/05/2005	12/05/2005	A red brick building with little natural light except for pool hall.  Slightly claustrophobic feel.  May close and be replaced by a more 'modern' facility.	Convenient opening hours. Relaxed atmosphere, friendly. / The wooden ceiling and skylights above pool water that let in lots of sunlight.  The fixed opening hours.  The dedicated lanes for distance swimmers.  The community noticeboard and leaflets.  The atmosphere - welcoming, inclusive of a wide range of people in terms of ages, ethnicity, gender.	Pool temperature frequently too high (29 degree +); chlorine levels high; changing area cold and in need of renovation. Showers can be cool, changing rooms dirty. /
Lambeth	Brockwell Lido	LIDO	CLOSED
Lambeth	Clapham Leisure Centre	HERITAGE	03/04/2005	Date not recorded	Basic Facilities only. Reassuringly hygienic and user-friendly.Would consider it as a "Local" Pool (cheap / friendly). Other sports availableOld building; not obviously a pool. No current restoration work. Looks small from outside, but very spacious inside (Like The Tardis) /	Spaciousness, airy, high ceilings, hygienic /	Cramped communal male showers /
Lambeth	Streatham Leisure Centre	HERITAGE	07/03/2005	Date not recorded	The lifeguards were very friendly and nice - and let me leave my bag on poolside with kit in it. I wish I'd taken pool shoes with me! The pool is treated with ozone I think not chlorine - the water was very salty. Which is good as stops you getting sore eyes etc. It would be a lovely pool if it were cleaner and had more money poured into facility!This is an old 1930s pool - the pool hall is nice with vaulted ceiling. It just needs money to restore it /	The facility is obviously used by local clubs a lot. There were lots of lively notices about kids swimming. There was a display cabinet with lots of trophies that the kids club had won, which was nice to see and engaging. The pool is very quiet and empty. /	The cleanliness and level of hygiene in the changing and the pool. Lots of floating plasters in the pool etc. The air temperature was very cold - the life guard told me it is always like that as it's an old building. /
Lewisham	Forest Hill Pools	HERITAGE	19/01/2005	Date not recorded	120 year old pool in need of restoration / It's rumoured locally that once a new sports centre in Downham (approx 3 miles away and not accessible from Forest Hill by public transport) is opened Forest Hill Pools is to close. Victorian building with dragon on roof recently restored.	Friendly local pool / Cleanliness of pool and friendliness of staff	Scruffy / Due to the age of the building and its heating system it's only ever either very hot or very cold in the changing rooms
Lewisham	Ladywell Leisure Centre	GOOD	11/02/2005	Date not recorded	Modern pool / Although it can be a bit of a disgrace at times I still say "Save Ladywell Leisure Centre"!!!!!	Larger than average pool - good accessibility by public transport / It's very local for me - half an hour walk over Hilly Fields - wakes me up every morning - I love it!	Changing rooms / The pool attendants / lifeguards don't appear to pay enough attention to the swimmers - one girl in particular is always miserable & likes to spend time arranging her hair - and she nodded off 3 times in the time it took us to swim 1 length…
Lewisham	The Bridge Leisure Centre	AVERAGE	05/02/2005	08/05/2005	Tidy - lack of charm - plenty of parking / There are more laned sessions on Monday to Friday and Sunday not specified as adult only.	Free parking.  Good clean pool. / Staff helpful and attentive, all areas usually very clean (but not on the day I assessed it)	Dirty changing rooms. / Heavily used by clubs and lessons on weekday evenings, so it can be difficult to find a time to swim after work.
Lewisham	Wavelengths Leisure Pool and Library	LEISURE	21/02/2005		Friendly, helpful staff. Plenty of windows - light - very modern /	Light, clean, modern 'play' pool /	Not suitable for serious swimmers.  No car park. /
Merton	Canons Leisure Centre	AVERAGE	13/04/2005	Date not recorded	Very poor design /	Very few swimmers in the pool /	no 5m flags for backstroke swimmers. Lane ropes are old and ineffective. /
Merton	Morden Park Pools	POOL IN NEED	16/04/2005	22/04/2005	The whole pool complex and changing rooms need to be retiled. It is old and appears dirty and uncared for. The bottom of the pool had litter on it and a lot of  balls of hair. Old lane ropes are draped along the walls and windows and trail along the poolside which is hazardous. Steps at the deep end had been removed.Very poor design / Nice quiet, very helpful staff but needs a thorough refurb of the changing area to being up to scratch.Needs a thorough refurbishment of the changing rooms.	It's size / Location in the park, nice but isolated.	A bit of a trek without a car.
Merton	Wimbledon Recreation Centre	AVERAGE	15/04/2005	Date not recorded	The pool was relined a few years ago which is an improvement. However, it is ruined by the very poor changing facilities. Also the ladies changing aree is by the deep end which if with children is a danger. Despite being a good length of pool to train in the lifeguards are hostile to those who wish to use pull bouys, paddles or fins when training, but fail to insist that swimmers should use lanes appropriate to their ability, hence you get good swimmers being held up by poor ones. All that is required is some enforcement of lane etiquette. / Not very pleasant pool to go to considering Wimbledon is a rich area.  However there are many private sports clubs (cannons/holmes place/virgin) in the area. Soon to be refurbished	Temperature / Near to home	Showers and changing rooms
Newham	Atherton Leisure Centre	SWIMMERS FAVOURITE (5TH)	13/02/2005	20/04/2005	Had to ring up to find out about swimming club and be quite persistent to get the info. Beautiful old building, very modernised.  Beautiful pool hall, vaulted roof. / I love this pool. Staff are friendly and helpful and the pool is a real gem.  Good written documentation (part of Newham Leisure Brochure) and I am now a premium member at £43.95 a month which allows me to use all the facilities and all classes for just this fee.  Also valid in Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets and now Camden (The Oasis).  BRILLIANT.  Seems to be always subject to some kind of building or painting work.	Clean water, beautiful pool hall and very friendly / EVERYTHING - especially the pool itself	Price of entry / Changing rooms not as excellent as other aspects
Newham	Balaam Leisure Centre	AVERAGE	15/02/2005	Date not recorded	Times filled in to indicate that adult lane swimming available during casual swimming times.Well maintained, freshly decorated, renovated. /	Clean, newly refurbished and very friendly staff /	No deep water in pool and no seating in changing area /
Newham	Eastham Leisure Centre	BEST POOL TOP 3	17/02/2005	28/03/2005	I went in half term so the programe was suited for more fun swimming.  Wonderfully maintained new building - round the back of the Old Town Hall building.  Great on safety: the pool was cleared entirely - with no panic, v well organised - because a girl was seen to be in difficulties.  All ok.  The staff explained the reasons for this very well.Beautifully retored old building with modern adaptings.  Large domed light (natural) over the main pool.  Imitation trees and rocks around pool adding to pleasant surroundings and holiday atmosphere.  Car park too small for demand - it was full with maned barrier - so drove 2 streets away to park. / Great modern development part of historic town hall complex.  Very well done.  Very people friendly, done to high standard and done to last.	Very popular and offers lots of clubs and classes.  Lots of fun good features for children.  Clean and well staffed. / Great women only session - all shapes, sizes, ages, races there - very relaxed atmosphers, also really clean well built pool	Chlorine was fairly strong.  Entrance was not seen from main road. / Only thing was signs obscured by screens put up for women only session, but small thing
Newham	Newham Leisure Centre	LEISURE	31/03/2005	Date not recorded	Radio music playing in pool area.  Very good parking area and gren playing fields surrounding the centreModern glass frontage - clean and bright in good order - felt welcoming /	Popular and mixed age groups using pool /	Finding it - I went past twice - its close to a major road junction, the entrance is down a driveway not easily seeen from the main road /
Redbridge	Fulwell Cross Leisure and Recreation Centre	GOOD	09/05/2005	14/04/2005	New contractors seems more conscientious.  Runnels can get dirty and I think should be covered where people tread.	Light and airy pool hall / ASA standard, equipped for serious swimming and diving	Got hit on head by enthusiastic swimmer in public session swimming with eyes closed. / No real adult learner pool.  General public often inconvenienced by school swimming
Redbridge	Ilford Pools	HERITAGE	15/04/2005	08/05/2005	1. In spite of the drawbacks I like this pool for exercise.  Old fashioned glazed bricks on floor help in checking speek, unlike featureless modern pool floors which just have the black liner. 2. I like the celing architecture which is helpful for backstrokes1930s design held together by hope.  Changing rooms relatively new because of renovation about 15 years ago; but inaccessible for wheelchairs.  Ample spectator room.  Nice ceiling helps backstrokes keep in line.  Loyal clientele or exercise but not ASA length. / Functional, a bit tatty but pleasant	For me the regulars in the medium lane avoid interrupting one another and the peace, stress free, helps my heart / Friendly atmosphere bright and cheerful	Slow repair if anything goes wrong / Café area was closed
Richmond	Hampton Open Air Pool	SWIMMERS FAVOURITE (4TH)	20/02/2005	29/03/2005	Slightly run-down but great potential and look after. / This is my favourite pool I have been to. It has a very dedicated group of loyal swimmer, The speed of swimmers in the lanes seems to be much faster than anywhere else I've been. Summer can be a bit of a nightmare. If you want to do some serious lane swimming go in the morning or evening seasons. This is a beautiful old pool.	Swimming outdoors, viewing area and café. / It’s the only pool that I know that is open air and open all year round.	No sauna at time of visit / Rather pricey, but worth it. Strange opening times in winter. Very busy in the summer.
Richmond	Pools on the Park	BEST POOL TOP 3	13/02/2005	23/04/2005	Have lane swimming and casual swimming all the time, but from 1pm till at least 8pm M-Th most of the pool is taken over by swimming classes and remaining lanes crowded.Whole place is made by situation at side of park and great big glass walls at side of pool / Space age drying booth. This is the best pool I have been to. Spoke to manager who was very helpful, pool will be non-smoking everywhere now. Superb listed 60s building, lots of glass so light and airy feel.	View over park when swimming / Outdoor swimming, a lane to myself, views around pool.	Unfriendly / The coffee.
Richmond	Teddington Pool and Fitness Centre	POOL IN NEED	21/02/2005	Date not recorded	0	Cheap. /	Water had an unpleasant odour, tatty interior and tiny lockers. /
Southwark	Camberwell Pool	AVERAGE	05/05/2005	08/05/2009	50P SWIMS FOR PEOPLE WITH £2 PASS. OLD BUILDING, WELL PRESERVED, NEEDS PAINT INSIDE / Nice building, changing areas need updating.	EXCELLENT SPECTATOR GALLERY, CAN WALK AROUND / Not too busy	LACK OF INFO, CLOSED FRI + SUN / Needs updating
Southwark	Dulwich Pool	HERITAGE	22/02/2005	05/05/2005	Old Victorian building in terrible state of maintenance despite monies available; all poured into gym / QUITE OLD POOL BUILDING, NICE OLD WELL MAINTAINED SIGN.	Skylight roof / FRIENDLY/LOCAL FEEL	TOO HOT, NEEDS A LOT OF POOLSIDE WORK, NO SPECTATOR AREA
Southwark	Peckham Pulse	CLOSED	Date not recorded		Lovely spacious modern building /	Positive atmosphere and architecture /	A little more cleaning in showers required /
Southwark	Seven Islands Pool	POOL IN NEED	15/04/2005	10/04/2005	I'm a regular swimmer at this pool and their unlimited deal of £12.85 a month is a god send! There is a question about subsidence that's never fully been resolved in the 5 years that I've been going there - so hanging in there is all I can say (In that time to be fair they have tried, just without resolving it) / Clearly pool working hard to provide what local community want - very friendly committed staff.  Fabulous to see aqua-aerobics class, and the way the staff handled changeover from lane swim to open swim.  But this building is in a complete state.  Needs investment.  Nothing at the moment could make it feel clean.This building needs renovating	That it's open at all - it's the only one around here / Good water, great pool, really friendly welcoming local pool, felt very relaxed.  Great to see so many women on Sunday morning in aqua-aerobic class	It always breaks down (twice a year) / State of building
Sutton	Cheam Leisure Centre	POOL IN NEED	13/03/2005	19/04/2005	Free car park. Nice 30s style building. / The pool was threatened with closure sevral years ago ( 10-12 ) and a local petition was raised. Lottery money allowed the development of gym/squash  facilities which has turned the centre into a vibrant if ageing leisure centreThe pool is of 1930's architecture and is showing its age whilst still being kept in reasonable condition withoutr having lots of money spent on it	Building has lots of character and original features. / Well used, varied activities and well liked by its users	Smelly (deodorant) water and slightly tatty changing rooms. / Humidity will get very high in summer - does not have modern ventilation systems
Sutton	Westcroft Leisure Centre	BEST POOL (5TH)	07/03/2005	24/04/2005	Very good.	Busy centre, good changing rooms. / General convenience, civilized establishment	Poorly lit outside and reception. / Nothing bad but I wish pools still had healthy snacks (Jamie Oliver required!)
Tower Hamlets	St George’s Pool	AVERAGE	10/04/2005		Recent refurb of changing rooms was good /	It is usually clean /	Lack of lockers /
Tower Hamlets	Tiller Leisure Centre	AVERAGE	09/05/2005		Recent work looks good /	Refurbished changing rooms /	Scum line around pool and changing rooms which needed cleaning. /
Tower Hamlets	York Hall Baths	HERITAGE	10/12/2004	28/03/2009	Lot of information came from very complicated brochure which had to ask for at reception / The place is falling part.	Late opening hours, wide lanes and quiet meant excellent for lane swimming / Lane swimming available	Lack of cleanliness / Run down
Waltham Forest	Cathall Leisure Centre	AVERAGE	07/02/2005	21/04/2009	Family orientated friendly community pool.  Could do with some investment  but be very happy to have at the end of my road. Modernish pool, but feels well worn.  Not at all beautiful, functional. / Looks quite shoddy - faded 1970s look.	Community pool, well used, friendly atmosphere, all ages and races / That it is actually open till quite late (10pm). We like this pool.  It should be open in the evening during school holidays for children.  Working parents can't go during the day!!!	Cold air round pool and narrow lanes / Overcrowding during swim classes and pool lane control
Waltham Forest	Larkswood Leisure Centre	GOOD	15/04/2005	13/04/2009	Pool does get very busy sometimes.  Pensioners go in the morning before 9 which creates less space for working people / Wooded clad, welcoming, though in out of town shopping centre	Near home - fairly quiet 9.15 - 10pm / The view (big glass wall), and 42 scouts and helpers having great time	Grubby changing cubicles / Queueing behind 42 scouts and helpers for only 5 showers for whole pool.  Changing village felt cramped
Waltham Forest	Leyton Leisure Lagoon	LEISURE	28/04/2005		Shopping centre architecture - glass pyramids from outside /	Pool fantastically well adapted to local need - went to women only night which was packed with women, all ages, sizes, races, nationalities - most of whom couldn't swim - some in headscarves, tights, underwear, sports wear and one woman in full sari.  Big swimming lesson going on one side which expanded so much that had to take over the only lane swimming area.  Great atmosphere high level of chat. /	Warm, bit cloudy water - but not really intended for swimming.  Shortage of showers (only 6 for entire pool and 2 not working). /
Waltham Forest	Waltham Forest Pool and Track	GOOD	28/02/2005	27/02/2005	Unassuming very good local pool. Box like from outside, functional but very well maintained inside.  Pool hall has glass wall so beautifully light. / Relatively new	Underfloor heating in changing rooms.  Seeing kids diving off high boards.  Under water viewing area / Its depth;  over 7 foot	Cold air.  Not enough toilets or showers - and all shared men/women / Layout of the changing rooms to lockers (separate) and communal dirty showers
Wandsworth	Balham Leisure Centre	GOOD	18/03/2005	18/04/2005	Recently restored period pool a little small but well kept up and clean / The staff management is extremely good in terms of customer relations.  Staff always helpful and friendly and seem happy. Recently refurbished in 2001 - good job.	Clean, convenient, location / The very friendly & helpful staff	Small / The dirt on the floor (from outside shoes on wet floors) of the changing rooms, broken locks to changing room doors, gum stuck on changing room wall  - for many weeks
Wandsworth	Latchmere Leisure Centre	LEISURE	22/04/2005	06/04/2005	MODERN, WELL MAINTAINED / Reception staff very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the facilities, very modern, all areas visible from eveywhere, "outdoor" feel as v. bright, airy with high ceiling.	Well maintained, hygienic. Good family pool. / Very modern, all areas visible from eveywhere, "outdoor" feel as v. bright, airy with high ceiling. Wave machine good fun. Very family oriented	Smelly loo, no room for real swimming. / No visible pace clock or temperature signs
Wandsworth	Putney Leisure Centre	BEST POOL TOP 3	06/05/2005	09/05/2005	Nice pool layout allows lane swimming all the time. Nice to have a diving pool. Refurbished in 2001 / Apparently further refurbishment will be taking place later this year.	DIVE POOL, GREEN, SPACIOUS POOLSPACE, NEAT POOL DESIGN. / It's a beautiful pool - bright, sunny, with a friendly atmosphere, and many loyal, regular users	It's generally pretty busy
Wandsworth	Tooting Bec Lido	SWIMMERS FAVOURITE (8TH)	18/03/2005	Date not recorded	Opening hours for end May - end Aug.  Also open 6am