WHAT THE DATA TELLS US

The UK’s swimming pools play a crucial role in supporting public health, aquatics education and physical activity. Yet beneath the picture of lanes, lessons and leisure centres is an industry facing questions about access, ageing and renewal

On 17th September, EVOLVE will launch its free State of the UK Swimming Industry Report 2026 at FreeFlow. Based on a data snapshot taken at midnight on 31st July 2026, the report identifies 2,878 qualifying swimming-pool sites containing 4,262 individual pools across the UK.

The national total appears relatively stable, but it tells only part of the story. Who can use these pools? Where are they located? How old are they - and can they continue meeting their communities’ needs?

The national total may look stable, but access, age and local provision reveal a swimming estate experiencing very different pressures beneath the surface

Of the qualifying sites, 2,125 provide open access: swimming available free of charge or on a pay-and-swim basis, without requiring membership. Membership-only pools contribute to the wider swimming estate but are not classified as open access.

The public swimming estate has a median site age of 38.6 years, while 740 public sites are at least 40 years old. Many remain successful and well used, but ageing facilities bring questions about investment, replacement and renewal.

Ageing facilities bring questions about investment, replacement and renewal

FREEFLOW: DATA-LED INSIGHT

The full report explores local provision, deprivation, management models, contract end dates, historical closures, outdoor swimming and the development pipeline. The report will be free to read digitally from 17th September, the date of the FreeFlow evet held at the London Aquatics Centre. Heidi Blackburn, Dan Harrison, Jamie Buck and Alexa Passingham from EVOLE will share the report’s key findings, with Olympic swimmer and broadcaster Steve Parry hosting.

EVOLVE’s swim partners and aquatics organisations will contribute to a day of insight, discussion and connection. Food is sponsored by Recotherm, drinks by Everyone Active and attendee goody bags by KitBrix. SwimNation has a limited number of giveaway tickets available for club and leisure operators with pools to join the conversation. To enquire: [info@nationmedia.uk.](mailto:info@nationmedia.uk)

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS:

The UK’s aquatics facility stock currently includes:

2,878 4,262 2,125

Qualifying swimming-pool sites

Individual pools

Sites offering free or pay-and-swim access