Plymouth, England, United Kingdom

Tinside Lido, Plymouth Hoe

A 1935 semicircular saltwater lido below Plymouth Hoe, looking straight out across Plymouth Sound. The water is treated but unheated, so it warms only with the sun, and the deep section reaches about 2.3m. Sessions sell out on hot weekends and in the holidays, so book ahead; early mornings are quieter, while sunny afternoons usually bring warmer water.

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Photo: Neil Owen · CC BY-SA 2.0

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Latest reading · SwimScore 70/100 (Good swim) for a typical swimmer: air 16°C, wind 11 km/h, UV 0. Updated 23 Sept, 22:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Best conditions: Early mornings are quieter; sunny afternoons usually give warmer water.
Getting in: Bookable online up to two weeks ahead, with same-day tickets at reception. 2026 prices: Plymouth residents £6.60 adult, £5.25 child; visitors £10.50; under-5s free. Operated by Plymouth Active.
Parking & transport: Paid on-street parking on Hoe Road directly above the lido, with lift access down to the pool; several city car parks nearby (e.g. Elphinstone, Grand Parade). About a 10–15 minute walk from the city centre.
Water quality: Treated saltwater pool. The open sea just off the Hoe (Plymouth Hoe East and West bathing waters) was rated Excellent by the Environment Agency in 2024 and 2025.
Season: Public swimming 23 May–27 September 2026, with early-morning sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 June.
Who swims here: Free Swim Safe water-safety sessions for 7–14-year-olds, based on RNLI advice, have run from the lido in summer, split between the pool and the sea at Tinside cove.
Watch for: Unheated water, warmed only by the sun
Deep section to about 2.3m, separated from the shallows by ropes
Rough poolside surfaces; pool shoes recommended
Facilities: Warm showers · Communal changing with private and family cubicles · Lockers (20p coin) · Coffee Pod café and sun terrace · Lifts, accessible changing and toilets, pool hoist · Deckchair and sun-lounger hire