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Activities 

  • Aqua Splash
  • Athletics
  • Badminton
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  • Diving
  • Fitness Classes
  • Football

  • Gym Workout
  • Healthwise
  • Ice Skating
  • Junior Gym
  • Kids Activities
  • Open Water Swimming
  • Outdoor Swimming
  • Personal Training
  • Senior Activities

  • Soft Play
  • Spa Experience
  • Squash
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Trampoline and Play Park
  • Weight Loss with Better
  • Women Only
Memberships 

  • All memberships
  • Concessionary memberships
  • Corporate Membership
  • Day passes
  • Library memberships
  • Monthly memberships
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  • Student memberships
  • Swim memberships
Man jogging on a treadmill in a gym.

Join today

Find a leisure centre membership that matches your pace.

Join now 
Woman stretching on a yoga mat in a studio, with others in the background.

Live Better

Workouts and wellbeing tools as part of your leisure centre membership.

Learn more about Live Better 
Lessons & Courses 

  • All Lessons & Courses
  • Athletics Lessons
  • Basketball Lessons
  • Diving Lessons
  • Football Lessons
  • Gymnastics Lessons
  • Horse Riding Lessons
  • Swimming Lessons
  • Tennis Lessons
  • Watersports Courses
Children in a swimming lesson with arms raised in a pool.

Children's Swimming Lessons

Boost confidence in the water and teach them a life skill with children's swimming lessons for all levels.

Explore swimming lessons 
Child learning to play tennis with instructor guidance.

Tennis Lessons

Elevate your game thanks to a range of tennis lessons available for kids and adults at your local Better leisure centre.

Explore tennis lessons 
Healthy Communities 

  • Better Health For Me
  • Community Groups and Schools
  • Community Stories
  • Creating Healthy Communities
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  • Skills For Life
  • Sports Clubs
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Group of people wearing swim caps resting at the edge of a swimming pool.

Support that fits you

Find free and low-cost programmes to help you move more and feel better.

Discover support programmes 
Woman lifting a barbell in a gym.

Wellbeing at work

Help your team stay active and healthy with workplace wellbeing solutions.

Explore Corporate memberships 
About Us 

  • A Charitable Social Enterprise
  • Careers
  • News
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People high-fiving during a group fitness class in a studio.

Behind Better

Meet GLL, the charitable social enterprise behind Better and the communities it supports.

Learn more about us 
Swimming pool staff member standing beside an indoor pool.

Give your passion a purpose

Choose a career where your skills help people and communities feel better, healthier and more supported.

Explore Better jobs 
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  1. Leisure Centres Breadcrumb Separator
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  3. Richmond Upon Thames Breadcrumb Separator
  4. Pools on the Park Breadcrumb Separator
  5. Outdoor Swimming at Pools on the Park
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Outdoor Swimming at Pools on the Park

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Swim for Fitness

If you’re looking for a low-impact, full-body workout, swimming is one of the best ways to boost your fitness and overall wellbeing. Our Swim for Fitness sessions are designed for all abilities, with slow, medium and fast lanes available to match your pace and help you make the most of every swim. You’ll also find a range of swimming accessories, goggles, swimwear and training aids available to purchase from reception to support your fitness goals in the pool.

BOOK SWIM FOR FITNESS

Swim For All

No matter your age, fitness level or swimming ability, our Swim for All sessions are ideal for building confidence, improving your technique, or simply enjoying quality time in the water with family and friends. These inclusive leisure swimming sessions run during school holidays in the Outdoor Pool, where you can splash, play and relax without the restriction of lanes. Dive in and make the most of a fun, family-friendly swim experience whatever the season.

BOOK SWIM FOR ALL

Swim UK Membership

At Pools on the Park in Richmond, you can enjoy year-round swimming in both our indoor and outdoor pools, ideal for fitness, training or leisure. As part of Better – the UK’s largest swimming pool operator – your Swim UK membership gives you access to over 140 swimming pools and 9 outdoor lidos across England, Cardiff and Belfast, so you can swim wherever life takes you. At Pools on the Park, we believe everyone should feel confident and active in the water. Our Swim UK membership is perfect for all ages and abilities – whether you’re just starting out, improving your strokes or swimming to stay fit, there’s no better place to dive in.

JOIN NOW

Getting Started with Outdoor Swimming

To ensure you get the most out of your outdoor swim at Pools on the Park, here are a few tips to help you prepare for the pool:

Pre Cleanse - please help us to keep your pool clean by following our Swim Hygiene guidelines by showering and using the toilet facilities before you swim.
Respect Others - people of different standards and abilities will use the pool. Please respect their right to enjoy their swim.
Choose your speed - choose your lane using the fast, medium and slow signs and by watching those already swimming. Before pushing off at each turn, check to see if anyone faster is approaching.
Be mindful of direction- please follow the directional signs and move across to the appropriate side of the lane for each length.
Think of space- try and leave at least 5 metres between yourself and another swimmer and if it’s possible to see a pace clock, then a 5 second gap is just as good.
Pick your strokes - wide stokes such as butterfly and breaststroke should be avoided when the lanes become busy. If you change to a slower stroke as part of your session, think about moving lanes.
Use equipment – fitness swimming training equipment, such as fins and hand paddles, is permitted at the discretion of the lifeguard and based on capacity. Snorkels can be used in conjunction with conventional swimming goggles.
Take time to rest - whether stopping for a rest or catching your breath after completing your swim, please be mindful that others using the lane will want to keep on swimming without stopping

Swim Safely Rules

FULL SWIM SAFELY RULES
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Better is a registered trademark and trading name of GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited), a charitable social enterprise and registered society under the Co-operative & Community Benefit & Societies Act 2014 registration no. 27793R. Registered office: Middlegate House, The Royal Arsenal, London, SE18 6SX. Inland Revenue Charity no: XR43398.

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