The Rise and Fall of Britain’s Seaside Lidos | Tom Goes Nomad

Britain’s coastline was once dotted with outdoor pools that promised the joy of swimming without the dangers of the sea. The water was chilly, but every summer people flocked there in their thousands. From Scarborough to Blackpool, giant pools offered not just swimming, but entertainment for the masses. Then something happened. Visitors numbers dropped. Councils pulled funding. Many pools were left abandoned and eventually concreted over. The seaside resorts’ once biggest attraction was made to disappear.

So lets look at the history of Britain’s seaside pools and lidos. How were they built? Why were they so popular? What was it like to visit one? And what made these iconic pools vanish from the seafront.