Lido (swimming pool)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Lido, in the United Kingdom and some other countries, refers to a public outdoor swimming pool and surrounding facilities, or part of a beach where people can swim, lie in the sun or participate in water sports. Over a hundred Lidos are still open.
The term Lido comes from the name of a place in Venice where bathing took place.
[edit] History
The Golden Age of new Lidos was in the 1930s when swimming became very popular and 169 were built across the the UK as recreational facilities by local councils. Many have closed as cheap foreign holidays became more appealing, but the remaining Lidos have a dedicated following of supporters.
Three examples of open lidos are Saltdene Lido in Sussex,Tooting Bec Lido in South London and Jesus Green Swimming Pool in Cambridge. Surbiton Lagoon & Peckham Rye are two that have closed. There were numerous lidos (particularly London and the south-west), but unfortunately hundreds have closed in the UK since recent times.
