London summer is no doubt the time for lidos. Every year, Londoners compete for a chance to sunbathe on the concrete at Brockwell, or to secure an £11.50 swim at Charlton.
But now autumn is well and truly here, we no longer have to pretend these outdoor pools compare to a holiday in the Mediterranean. Just a short journey from these popular lidos, a state-of-the-art leisure centre has just flung its doors open.
Canada Water Leisure Centre boasts a new eight-lane 25-metre swimming pool decked out with snazzy changing rooms and facilities. London’s newest leisure centre, which opened on Monday, September 1, also boasts a gym and a sports hall with four courts.
I headed down to Canada Water this morning to see if the leisure centre is a worthy addition to the area. Green and white balloons decked the entrance area with what seemed like dozens of staff standing by the reception. This, along with people not understanding the ticket system (guilty), combined to create a bit of a chaotic atmosphere.
But leisure centre visitors seemed to be quite understanding of this as staff helped them navigate the system. I had booked my ticket online for £6 about two hours beforehand, and was then handed a swipe card at the reception desk to sign in to the building.
After this, I was all set to go and made my way down the changing rooms. Inside, I counted about four separate changing areas flanked by lockers, along with five showers (one of which was accessible) and toilets.
The swimming pool was busy with children enjoying the last few days of the summer holidays, but the lanes were practically empty. I had one of three lanes to myself for most of my 50-minute swim before heading back to the changing rooms.
“Is it nice in there?”, I’m asked at an awkward point while putting my trousers on. A few others also asked if it’s an improvement to the recently shut Seven Islands Leisure Centre pool before walking in for the first time.
After my swim, I took the opportunity to have a nosy at the gym and sports hall before heading back to the Tube station. Overall I’d describe it as a great experience, and definitely a worthy addition to the Southwark area.
It was easy to book as a guest online, and I just needed to collect a swipe card at reception before using the pool. At £6 for an hour-long swim, it’s also fairly good value, and easy to reach from both East and South London.
How to get there
By far the easiest way to reach the leisure centre is by train. It’s just a three-minute walk from Canada Water station, which is on both the Jubilee and Windrush lines. Canada Water Bus Station is also nearby with handy connections to South East London.
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