A TINY lido in the UK has been compared to having "chilled beach vibes" - despite being miles from the coast. The outdoor swimming pool , at Ashby Leisure Centre, first opened in 1929. Dubbed Ashby-by-the-sea by the banners surrounding it, it's the only public lido in Leicestershire .
Following a £1.2million renovation in 2021, I decided to take my boys along to see if it lives up to the hype and gives you a holiday vibe without leaving home. The sun was shining, the tunes were blasting and everyone was in high spirits as we arrived at the Hood Park venue, currently managed by Everyone Active.
It's quite a sun trap in the lido area and there wasn't a lot of shade available, so make sure you bring hats and sun cream. The water was probably the warmest I've ever encountered in an outdoor pool and it was delightful for a dip. The lido itself is a bit back-to-basics, with 20 or so changing cubicles lining the walls, a couple of alfresco shower areas to rinse off in and a clutch of lockers which have seen better days.
But it was a wonderful spot to while away a warm day. There's a food hut offering burgers and chips, cold drinks and ice creams. Bringing in your own snacks and drinks isn't allowed.
My smallest boy absolutely loved the play area, with what was once a baby pool filled with sand and transformed into a beach for under-eights, complete with a climbing frame and buckets and spades. The only issue with the current arrangement is that there's no separate swimming space fo.
