The 5 Best Swimming Pools in York

Swimming is a great form of exercise and also one of my favourites.

So finding a good place to enjoy the water or have a peaceful swim are some of the most important aspects to me, so here are my top 5 favourite pools and leisure centres to visit.

The Map of the 5 Best Swimming Pools in York 🗺️

To help you easily locate each of these swimming spots in York, here is a map highlighting all five pools discussed in this article.

This map allows you to quickly identify the nearest location, access directions, and explore nearby facilities.

1 – Better York Leisure Centre

Better York Leisure Centre, located at Kathryn Avenue, Monks Cross, York, YO32 9AF, was opened in April 2021, as well as the stadium and other additions for the community to enjoy.

The Swimming area includes a large changing rooms with showers and lockers. I think the changing rooms are just as important as the pool.

Better York Leisure Centre has a 25m pool where lessons and “swim for all sessions” take place for older kids and adults, a splash pad for children under 8 to use the interactive water-based play areas, and the learner pool where younger kids can learn to swim.

As well as the pools, the leisure centre also offers fitness classes, sports groups, activity halls and a cafe, which we love to visit, mostly because a membership isn’t required.

• 🗺️ Location: Kathryn Avenue, Monks Cross, York, YO32 9AF
•  Contact: 01904 942255
• Opening Times:
  • Mon – Thu 06:30 – 21:30
  • Fri 06:50 – 21:30
  • Sat – Sun 08:00 – 18:00
•  Prices:
  • Adult, Non-member (£6.25), pay as you go (£5.05).
  • Junior (age 11 to 17) Non-member (£4.50), Pay as you go (£4.10)
•  Pool Timetable Here…
•  Official Website Here…

2 – David Lloyd York

David Lloyd York, offers indoor and outdoor heated pools which can be used for swimming lessons or training, they offer multiple different options to choose from to suit your needs and even their own spa which includes whirlpools, saunas and steam rooms.

I would personally rate David lloyds as number 1 in York but the price for me puts it into the number 2 spot. If your able to afford their membership i definitely recommend going here.

Besides that, it also has tennis clubs, football, arts and crafts and athletics for you to experience and is a great place to visit with family or on your own.

You can contact them at their website: , and telephone:

• Location: St John’s Playing Field, Hull Rd, York YO10 3LG
•  Contact: 0345 125 7057
• Opening Times:
  • Monday to Friday: 6am to 10pm
  • Saturday & Sunday: 7am – 9pm
•  Membership Options Here…
•  Pool Timetable Here…
•  Official Website Here…

3 – York Sport Village

York Sport Village, located at York Sport, Lakeside Way, Heslington, York YO10 5FG, was established in August 2011, with lots of interesting things to experience there.

The swimming area contains storage, changing rooms and showers, with the pools split into 2. One of the pools is mainly focused on lane swimmers, and the other is for families looking to teach their children the importance of swimming.

Aside from that, you can also obtain a membership which gives you unlimited access to the gym and fitness classes, which I highly enjoy and recommend.

You can contact them at their website: https://www.york-sport.com, and telephone:

• Location: York Sport, Lakeside Way, Heslington, York YO10 5FG
•  Contact: 01904 325751
• Opening Times:
  • Monday to Friday: 6am to 10pm
  • Saturday & Sunday: 8am to 5pm
•  Prices: Pay as you go: Adults £5.40, Concession £4.20, Family Swim £12.50, Children under 4 is Free.
•  Pool Timetable Here…
•  Official Website Here…

4 – Energise Leisure Centre

Energises facilities are very much like ‘York Leisure Centre’ as they are both owned by “Better” but the pools are more minimalised and not as impressive as York Leisure Centre.

They have a 25m pool which is nice for laps or a calming swim, and also offer classes and a school programme to teach younger how to swim and stay safe in water, as well as accompanying adults who lost that opportunity, which I think is a great concept.

It also offers a 98-station gym, fitness classes, climbing courses, a café and a crèche which is great in case you are travelling with young kids and want some alone time while you work out.

• Location: Cornlands Road, Acomb, York, YO24 3DX
•  Contact: 01904 403903
• Opening Times:
  • Mon – Thu 06:30 – 21:30
  • Fri 06:50 – 21:30
  • Sat – Sun 08:00 – 18:00
•  Prices:
  • Adult, Non-member (£6.25), pay as you go (£5.05).
  • Junior (age 11 to 17) Non-member (£4.50), Pay as you go (£4.10)
•  Pool Timetable Here…
•  Official Website Here…

5 – Yearsley Swimming Pool

Also owned by “Better”, Yearsley Swimming Pool is a small building just focusing on swimming.

With only 1 large pool Yearsley can get very crowded on Swim for all slots. I personally go for lane swimming or as they advertise it as “Swim for Fitness”.

I think Yearsley swimming is on of the best pools in York all depending on how busy it gets. I work out how busy it is buy checking how many booking slots are still available on the website.

• Location: Haley’s Terrace, Clifton, York YO31 8SB
•  Contact: 01904403860
• Opening Times:

Days	Hours
Monday	7:10 am–5:20 pm
Tuesday	7 am–5:20 pm
Wednesday	7:10 am–7 pm
Thursday	7 am–5:20 pm
Friday	7 am–5:20 pm
Saturday	8:10 am–4 pm
Sunday	8 am–3:30 pm

•  Prices:
  • Adult, Non-member (£6.25), pay as you go (£5.05).
  • Junior (age 11 to 17) Non-member (£4.50), Pay as you go (£4.10)
•  Pool Timetable Here…
•  Official Website Here…