Manchester Aquatics Centre

An outstanding facility close to Manchester's two universities, to the Royal Northern College of Music, and to the City's main hospital and medical school. It's served by regular bus services from the City Centre along Oxford Road and is only a 15 or 20 minute walk away from the Town Hall right in the heart of the City. On my visit at 09h00 on a weekday, the 50 metre pool was laned for lap swimming. There were seven marked lanes: two slow; two medium; two fast; and one very fast. The pool was lightly used, with no more than about 40 swimmers overall; the lane that I used never had more than three swimmers in it. Given that the 50 metre competition pool is not available for lap swimmers all the time (sometimes they will need to use one or other of the two 25 metre training pools), it is wise to check the timetable on the facility's website.

Surprisingly, for a modern and very large facility, the non-gender specific changing accommodation is dimly lit and rather cramped, the non-gender specific showers even more so, with only eight shower heads to serve three swimming pools, a diving pool; and a fun pool. Lockers require a refundable deposit of a £1 coin. Don't let these very minor irritations put you off going there.

It's an outstanding facility. The Centre has its own adjacent parking lot.

This is a great pool! The temperature is reasonable … there are lane ropes, backstroke flags, and pace clocks. Parking is easy at the parking garage around the block.