Where are the best places to swim outdoors near Bristol?

If you live in and round Bristol, there are plenty of open air swimming venues – both wild and purpose-built – within a short distance away. Scroll down for our top recommendations.  And for more of the best places to swim outdoors in the UK, consult The Outdoor Swimming Guide. 

AVONCLIFF

51.3396, -2.2797/Avoncliff, Wiltshire/Swimming and paddling Near John Rennie’s towering

Avon cliff Aqueduct, a fun family swim spot can bed is covered above the five-foot-high weir on the River Avon. In the shadow of an old mill-house, the deep and calm river pool is the perfect spot to splash around on a summer’s day. The perfect day trip from Bristol, this spot offers a rope swing, grassy picnic spots and flat, shallow paddling areas. The river is swimmable up to historic Bradford-on-Avon. This popular stretch is also frequented by kayakers and canoeists, so keep an eye out and consider wearing a bright swim cap. Refreshments can be found at the waterside Cross Guns pub. There are also plenty of pubs and cafes in Bradford-on-Avon – a walk along the canal towpath from the town will allow you to visit the fourteenth-century stone Tithe Barn on the way.

Access

Access via gently sloping, grassy banks and stone-slabbed weir. Avon cliff railway station just across the aqueduct, offering services to Bristol, Exeter and London. Limited free parking near aqueduct – consider walking the two kilometres along towpath from Bradford-on-Avon.

Rising Sun, River Chew. © Grace Haines

RISING SUN, RIVER CHEW

51.3718, -2.5522/Pensford, Somerset/Swimming and paddling

In the shadow of the Grade-II-listed Pensford Viaduct, the River Chew opens to create a shallow pool perfect for paddling. Grassy banks slope gently into the water and provide sun-soaked areas to enjoy a picnic. With plenty of shallow areas, this is an ideal spot to bring children after exploring the tranquil Chew Valley. Although there are no facilities at the spot itself, food and drink can be found at theRising Sun, whose beer garden overlooks the River Chew.

Access

Access via grassy banks (follow the lane by Rising Sun or footpath on opposite side of river). Frequent buses to Street, Bristol, Wells and Bath stop in Pensford village centre, less than a kilometre away. Limited on-street parking; alternate parking at village hall, 500metres away.

YATTON, RIVER YEO

51.3826, -2.8587/Yatton, Somerset/Swimming

Between the M5 motorway and the West Coast Main Line railway, you’ll find a bracing swim spot in the horseshoe curves of the River Yeo. The perfect day trip from Bristol, this steep-banked section of the water offers privacy and seclusion. Nestled among Somerset’s green farmland, this spot is characterised by its crystal clear and reedy water, although the river may run low after a dry spell. A dip here and sunbathe on the lush surrounding fields will be sure to leave you refreshed, and afterwards nearby Yatton offers plenty of opportunity to get a bite to eat.

Access

Entry to water via steep-sided banks; a scramble may be required. Yatton railway station two kilometres away via Wemberham Lane; swim spot is easy to reach by bike. Frequent buses to Bristol from railway station. Nearest parking at railway station. 

Clevedon Marine Lake. © Laura Nesbit

CLEVEDON MARINE LAKE

51.4351, -2.8699/Salthouse Fields, Old ChurchRoad, Clevedon, Somerset, BS21 7TU/01275877180/Swimming and paddling/www.clevedonmarinelake.co.uk

The expansive Clevedon Marine Lake is the largest tidal infinity pool in the world, containing30 million litres of seawater. The lake is shared with canoeists, model boat enthusiasts and even zorbers, so consider taking a brightly coloured swim cap. The lake’s calendar provides details of events and overtopping (you should not swim when the water overtops the perimeters, in stormy weather or if a red flag is flying). The lake has no lifeguards and is only one metre deep at its fringes, so diving is not permitted, and there are public toilets near the neighbouring coastguard station. Since its opening in 1929, the pool has welcomed long-distance swimmers and challenge events, but more importantly it offers swimmers a blissful opportunity to float and watch the sun set over the Bristol Channel in bracingly chilly saltwater. The nearby Salthouse Bar & Restaurant can provide refreshments.

Access

Access via handrailed steps; do not use slippery slipway. Level/ramped access to poolside. Frequent buses to Bristol on EltonRoad, in front of lake. Paid on-site parking at Salthouse Fields car park.

PORTISHEAD OPEN AIR POOL

51.4939, -2.7716/Esplanade Road, Portishead, Somerset, BS20 7HD/01275 843454/Swimming and paddling/www.portisheadope-nairpool.org.uk

A 1960s lido, Portishead Open Air Pool offers striking concrete architectural details to rival its1930s siblings. Familiar to many as the star of Ty’s Great British Adventure, which document edits refurbishment in 2009, this volunteer-run, biomass-heated, thirty-three-metre lido, standing on high cliffs, will still take your breath away. You can swim, splash in the children’s pool, sunbathe on the terraces or enjoy views over container ships on the Bristol Channel. The community-run cafe offers fresh fruit as well as hot drinks, snacks, sweets and light meals. Post-swim, you could enjoy a stroll along the beach or Portishead Lake Grounds next to the lido or head to the marina for a waterfront lunch.

Access

Access via ladders and hand railed steps. Level access to poolside; accessible (wet room)changing areas and toilets. Frequent buses to Bristol, Weston-Super-Mare and Nailsea from town centre, less than a kilometre away. On-street parking and car park adjacent to lido.

Bristol Lido. © Sarah Thelwall

BRISTOL LIDO

51.4597, -2.6114/OakfieldPlace,Clifton,Bristol,BS8 2BJ/01179 339530/Swimming/www.lidobristol.com

Once, lidos were synonymous with glamour, and Bristol Lido is an elegant, heated pool that unabashedly showcases an exclusive allure. Nestled among Clifton’s Georgian terraces, the Victorian pool no longer languishes in disrepair but is now a spa facility offering saunas, massages and spa treatments, and a fine dining Mediterranean restaurant. Primarily a members facility, the lido offers some public sessions as well as spa-and-swim and swim-and-eat packages. The lido occasionally offers family fun sessions, but generally is open to over-eighteens only. If you want to make a weekend of it there are plenty of nearby attractions to explore, including Bristol Zoo, the museum and art gallery, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s masterpieces, the iron SSGreat Britain and Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Access

Entry to pool via ladders. Level/ramped access to poolside; accessible wet room changing areas and toilet. Less than a kilometre to Clifton Down railway station; frequent buses to city centre from Victoria Rooms stop, 300 metres away. Parking limited; pay-and-display carparks near Bristol Museum, 700 metres away.