TWO years after its closure, a Grade II listed swimming pool finally has a reopening date.
It’s been undergoing renovation and has made improvements to its Victorian structure as well as its pool and gym facilities at the cost of £6.5million.
Swindon’s Health Hydro on Milton Road has announced it will reopen on January 19, 2026.
Improvements to the site include new changing rooms, a redesigned entrance hall and a gym and activity space.
The website reads: “The Health Hydro has been closed while the first phase of major refurbishment was carried out.
“It is now getting ready to welcome back swimmers and gym users to refreshed spaces in the much-loved historic property when it reopens in the new year.”
The first plans for renovation of the Health Hydro began in 2018.
Work on the 33-metre hydro pool began in 2023 years with renovations that initially were supposed to take 18 months.
The site was set to open in 2025, but had to be pushed back due to unforeseen challenges like the redesigning and preservation of its listed structure and removal of asbestos.
Not all of the site will reopen as the site’s Turkish Baths are still undergoing work, and will remain closed.
SBC councillor Marina Strinkovsky described the Health Hydro as a “unique and historic building” which required thoughtful and safe work.”
She added: “The result is a facility that’s ready to welcome people back, with significant improvements already in place. I’m really looking forward to seeing swimmers and gym users enjoying the Hydro again.
“And while this reopening marks a major milestone, we’re continuing to work hard to secure funding for the next phases of restoration.”
There may be further work carried out to the pool as the Swindon Borough Council website reveals plans for the ‘Main Pool Hall Restoration’.
These were submitted in August 2025 and if successful would be carried out in 2027.
Other aspects of further work would be to the Small Pool, Turkish Baths, Dispensary and dry-side areas of the Health Hydro.
The pool opened more than 130 years ago and its side was built by Great Western Railway workers who gave some of their wages to fund the project.
The washing baths were built in 1891, with the Turkish and Russian baths being added in 1904.
This abandoned Victorian church has been turned into one of the UK’s most beautiful swimming pools…
In the London Borough of Redbridge, the stunning pool is on the site of a former psychiatric hospital, Claybury Hospital, designed by a Victorian architect.
The hospital operated between 1893 and 1997 when it closed due to a dwindling number of patients after the introduction of the NHS.
After that, the estate, called Repton Park, was converted into an estate of luxury flats, parks and of course, a health club.
Virgin Active owns the gym on the red brick estate and inside, you’ll find a huge pool in what used to be the on-site chapel.
Inside is a 24-metre pool as well as showers, hot tub and steam room.
What used to be the old confessional box has even been converted into a sauna.
Apart from the fact it’s been filled with water, the church remains the same with huge archways, stained glass windows and vaulted ceiling.
One visitor wrote on Yelp: “When I first entered the pool I was really taken aback and quite mesmerised – it felt a little sacrilegious, but at the same time I very much enjoyed swimming.”
Another wrote: “The pool area is stunning. It feels so luxurious – with it being in a converted church, the original features make it feel magical to go for a swim or use the spa pool.”
Plus, find out more on the hidden Grecian swimming pool that’s one of the grandest in the UK.
And the art deco swimming pool in the UK with rare Victorian baths named one of the best in the world.