Better Swimming Lessons

Whether you’re looking for fun and engaging swimming classes for your kids or want to learn the swimming basics yourself, we’ve got a class for you. 

As the largest provider of swimming lessons in the UK, our Better Swim School, helps over 200,000 people a week learn to love the water and get active. Through our children and adult swimming lessons, we help everyone become capable and confident swimmers in a leisure centre near them. 

Swimming is a valuable life skill and a great form of exercise. That's why we offer flexible, affordable classes that cater for all ages and levels of ability, from baby and parent lessons to womens only classes to outdoor swimming sessions.

Find your local centre to book a lesson or course:

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Already registered on a course? Login to your Home Portal account here to view lesson progress, lesson days and times plus any cancelled dates. The benefits of tracking swim lessons include:

  • Records of achievement.
  • Encouragement to keep the kids active.
  • Ability to book and pay online.
  • One account for multiple children/courses.

What do Better swimming lessons offer?

We want everyone to feel comfortable and confident in the water. That’s why our swim sessions and lessons are:

  • Led by passionate teachers - Taught by experienced, qualified teachers and coaches, our swimming lessons follow an industry-leading programme in a fun and progressive environment.
  • Made with you in mind - we aim to provide flexible, affordable and convenient lessons for everyone, with prices starting from as little as £3 per class (dependent on location).
  • Great for tracking progress - with Home Portal, you’ll have the ability to track your child’s progress with our online tool and easily see what they’ve learnt.

Plus, if your child has a swim lesson membership, they can get free access to our casual, lane and family swimming sessions. Full T&C's available here.

Swimming Classes For Everyone

We offer a wide variety of swimming lessons for all ages and abilities. Find the right class to suit you or your child’s needs:

Swimbies - Baby & Parent Swim

Teach your baby to swim with Better swimming lessons. Our children’s classes are tailored to ages 3 months to 4 years, providing a fun syllabus to help you and your child build water confidence that lasts a lifetime.

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Swim School - Children's Swimming Lessons

Our engaging children's swimming courses take place across the UK for all ages and abilities, at affordable prices in your local leisure centre. Not only that, our Swim School helps your child feel comfortable and gain independence in the water while having fun and making friends.

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Adult Swimming Lessons

From beginners working on the basics to those who want to boost their fitness, Better’s adult swimming programme has been created for all your aquatic needs. Whether you want to learn to swim, improve your technique or need swimming training for an event, our sessions will help make the most of your time in the pool in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

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Women’s-Only Swimming Lessons

Run for women, by women, our sessions are led by qualified female swimming instructors and cater to girls and women of all swimming stages and abilities. With our ladies swimming sessions and classes, you can develop a healthy lifestyle while enjoying the social and mental benefits of swimming.

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Disability Swimming Lessons

At Better, we want everyone to be able to enjoy some time in the pool. That’s why we will look to integrate those with disabilities into our existing group lessons where possible. We can offer 1-to-1 or small group swimming lessons to support children and adults to start to swim, working with our partner charity, Level Water, to provide lessons for primary school-aged children with a physical or sensory disability.

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Private Swimming Lessons

We understand that every person is different and has their own goals to achieve in the water. Whatever level you’re starting at, we offer private 1-to-1 swimming lessons with a qualified swimming instructor at a leisure centre near you. Our expert instructors create and tailor bespoke swim plans to help you or your child hit their targets. 1-to-1 lessons are subject to availability. Please contact your local centre for more information.

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Holiday Short Courses

Help your kids stay active and learn a new life skill over the holidays with our Swim School Holiday Courses.

Suitable for all levels, your child will build their confidence in the water and have fun Lessons run daily from Monday to Friday*.

Find and book a Swim School holiday short course near you in three steps:

  1. Go to https://betterflow.courseprogress.co.uk
  2. Find and click on your preferred location - you’ll then be able to see the available courses.
  3. Select 'Swim School Holiday courses' in the left-hand filter and choose the option that’s best for you.

*days and times will be confirmed as you select your booking.

 Book Swim School today

Learn to Swim With Expert Instructors

All our teachers are professional, passionate and pupil-focused and will ensure you’re in safe hands in the water. We want to give people of all ages valuable swimming training, which is why we invest not only in our pupils, but our teachers too.

Our talented teachers have a wide range of prized skills and qualifications, and we help fund our trainee instructors to achieve the following qualifications and skills:

Swim Classes in High-Class Facilities

With over 130 indoor swimming pools, including the famous Manchester Aquatics Centre, our local swim facilities make developing your skills and passion easier. 

Selected pools are also equipped with springboards and diving boards to help you discover the benefits of diving. We offer diving lessons for all ages and abilities, including classes from the Tom Daley Diving Academy.

Other Better swimming facilities include:

Check the facilities at your local pool

Swimming Lesson FAQs

How many lessons does it take to learn to swim?

Learning to swim happens at a different pace for everyone, so there isn’t a one size fits all. In order to really improve your swim skills, consistent lessons over a long period of time are a great way to see results.

What is the best age to start swim lessons?

The recommended age to start is around four years old. At this age, children have the muscle movements and coordination to learn and be successful at swimming. With our Swimbies swimming sessions, you can even start getting your little one comfortable in the water from as young as 3 months.

It's never too late to learn to swim either. Whatever you’re age or ability, we’re ready when you are.

What measures are in place to ensure the Better swim facilities are safe to use?

We have put in place numerous measures to keep our swimming facilities safe. These include:

  • Increased cleaning schedules – we clean our facilities on a more regular basis
  • Pre-booked swim lessons - all our swimming classes have to be pre-booked to control class capacity and stagger lesson start times

What can I wear to swimming lessons?

Please download our swimwear guide (PDF 123KB) for guidance on what to wear during swimming lessons.

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Diving

Whether you’re a novice looking for an adrenaline rush or an experienced diver looking to advance your technique, come to one of our diving pools. 

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Swimming at Better

Swimming is a great all-round exercise and is perfect if you want to be more active and stay healthy whatever your age or ability. With Better, you’ll have access to a local indoor and outdoor swimming pools near you. 

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*Free access to 'Swim For All' and 'Swim For Family' sessions is included with swim lesson memberships for children in their home facility only. Additionally, competent swimmers of club standard over the age of 11 can access 'Swim for Fitness'. For full activity terms please visit www.better.org.uk/activity-terms. Availability may be limited and advanced booking might be required. Free access is not included with any adult swimming lessons memberships and all centres within the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Waltham Forest residents who are over 60, Armed Forces staff, and people with disabilities are entitled to free swimming during off-peak hours, and those under 18 swim for free during school holidays, with a valid Pay As You Go membership.