Lewes, England, United Kingdom
Pells Pool
Pells Pool in Lewes has drawn spring water from the chalk beneath it since 1861, and its operators describe it as the oldest freshwater outdoor public pool in the UK. It is unheated, so the 46-metre pool starts the season cold and warms through the summer; book a lane session ahead, bring plenty of warm layers and leave the camera at home, as photography is not allowed.
Photo: PellsPool · CC BY 3.0
Latest reading · SwimScore 72/100 (Good swim) for a typical swimmer: air 17°C, wind 10 km/h, UV 0. Updated .
Know before you go
- Best conditions
- Later in the summer, once the sun has warmed the water; sessions run whatever the weather except for lightning.
- Getting in
- Book online up to two weeks ahead or pay at the kiosk if a session has space. 2026 adult prices: £4.50 for a one-hour session, £5.00 for a three-hour session; swim passes available. No dogs, no alcohol and a long-standing no-photography rule.
- Parking & transport
- No car park at the pool; the nearest are the long-stay car parks at Spring Gardens and Brook Street off North Street. It is a 10 to 15 minute walk from Lewes station, and there is a bike rack by the lawn.
- Lifeguards
- Sessions are supervised by pool lifeguards; the pool is cleared if there is lightning within 10 km.
- Water quality
- Fed by spring water from the chalk aquifer below. The team monitors clarity and may shock-treat the water, closing the pool for a day or two, if it turns cloudy in hot, busy weather.
- Season
- Open between spring and autumn: the 2026 season opened on 18 April, with an early autumn season from 14 September to 11 October 2026.
- Who swims here
- Run as a charity by the Pells Pool Community Association, with midnight swims, a summer solstice swim and a bonfire swim among its special events.
- Watch for
- Cold water, especially early in the season
- Under-16s cannot swim when the water is below 15°C
- Fins and snorkels not allowed
- Facilities
- 46 m unheated spring-fed pool with five lanes in lane sessions · Paddling pool · Male and female changing areas (no secure lockers) · Toilets plus accessible toilet, shower and changing room, and a ramp into the pool · Five poolside showers, four warm and one cold · Kiosk, sun terrace and lawn · Sauna, booked alongside a swim
Sources: pellspool.org.uk, pellspool.org.uk, pellspool.org.uk, pellspool.org.uk, en.wikipedia.org
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Details
- Location
- Lewes, England, United Kingdom
- Type
- pool
- Coordinates
- 50.8775, 0.0096