Gillingham lido open for summer after £250k refurb

The only riverside saltwater tidal swimming pool in England is reopening with a new £250,000 children's "splash pad" water play area.The Strand Lido and Leisure Park, in Gillingham, Kent, will welcome families back for the summer on Saturday.Now recognised as "historically significant" by Historic Pools of Britain, the leisure complex includes an outdoor leisure pool, six 25m lanes for swimming, a 300m lazy river, a café and play areas.But the most excitement will be around the new £248,283 children's water feature, which uses 30 sensor-activated waterjets in a beach-themed play area.
Councillor Nina Gurung, the council's portfolio holder for heritage, culture and leisure, previously said: "We are proud to have invested in this exciting project to improve the already great offering and add a brand new fun feature for our children and families to enjoy both this summer and for years to come."The Strand opened in 1896 and the refurbishment was funded by money given to Medway Council by housing developers, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.The refurbishment was done using £248,283 of section 106 money, which is made up of contributions from housing developers to Medway Council.The leisure complex is now open each weekend until the end of summer and every day during the school summer holidays.

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The Sun

5 hours ago

• The Sun

I visited UK's best kept secret that feels like the Cotswolds without the price

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Times

7 hours ago

• Times

My hack for a family hiking holiday? Take the ski lifts in the Swiss Alps

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We thought we'd run it for ten years, but here we still are.' The result could not have been more atmospheric, and dinner was a feast: rösti, macaroni prettied up with edible flowers, kid-pleasing burgers, homemade wild berry ice cream (mains from £21), so too breakfast, with homemade bircher and jams. I could've stayed for a week, if not for ever. A storm was forecast for lunchtime the next day, and we knew we needed an early start to get up over the exposed Strelapass before it hit. The path became greyer and more grinding as the clouds built, pouring over the sky like dry ice. The rain came down as we reached the the top at 2,352m, so we sheltered in the Strela Pass Restaurant (more Shithead) before hotfooting it down the other side towards Davos. 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Shockingly, they never even asked for sweets. • The best places to visit in Switzerland Swimming helped maintain the good vibes. The path back to Langwies through the rumpled folds of the Fondei Valley descended beside the charging Fondeier Bach river and we skinny-dipped in hectic pools, crossing narrow bridges beside waterfalls at the foot of the gorge that was, for now, more impressive than anything Minecraft could create.'Look around, this is amazing!' Heidi yelled — music to her parents' ears. And back in Arosa, after another night at the Faern, we spent the morning in the town swimming lake, Untersee — a natural municipal lido with diving boards, an inflatable platform with slide, play areas and 1930s wooden changing rooms, all for £4.50, or free with an Arosa Card that came with our hotel sort of facility is not uncommon in the Alps, convincing me that those who are born in the region have won the geographical lottery of life. One last gondola, Urdenfürggli, and a long sunny descent, and we were back at the start in Lenzerheide. What a sense of achievement! What a thrill to return to the same hotels, feeling changed by adventure, though it had only been a few days! What blisters! The children had had a look of joy on their faces almost the entire time. They had giggled madly together. We'd bonded. I had learnt much about Piglins. So how did they feel about walking holidays now? 'We hate them,' they said. But all the smiley photos, and their proud expressions when we totted up our stats — some 30 miles of walking — they told a different story… Gemma Bowes was a guest of Switzerland Tourism ( and the Lenzerhorn hotel, which has B&B doubles from £229 ( the Faern Arosa Altein, with B&B doubles from £177 ( Heimeli, with B&B doubles from £172 ( and Edelweiss, with B&B doubles from £122 ( Fly to Milan or Zurich

The Independent

8 hours ago

• The Independent

The best lidos and outdoor swimming pools to visit over summer

The UK offers a wide array of outdoor swimming options, including coastal areas, rivers, lakes, lidos, and pools, perfect for cooling down during summer. The Independent highlights several popular locations across the country, such as Ilkley Lido, Serpentine Lido, Lido Ponty, and Bude Sea Pool. These featured spots boast diverse characteristics, from heated pools and historical architecture to natural tidal pools and family-friendly amenities. Details on admission fees and operating hours are provided for each recommended swimming destination, with some offering free access. Many of the listed sites hold historical significance, with some providing unique activities like year-round swimming for clubs or special events.