Royal Commonwealth Pool

I swam here on a Thursday evening in September. The pool was set up with 50-metre-long course lanes. The pool was clean and swimmers well organized by speed. Bring a one-pound coin (refundable) to operate the lockers. Note no shoe zone in locker rooms, which are mixed gender with changing stalls.

What a beautiful facility! There were lots of swimmers, but I had no problem completing my 60-minute workout.

I had multiple swims here in November and December, 2017. I swam between 9:30 and 11:30 AM or so on each day; some days I had my own lane, others I shared my lane with a maximum of two others. I saw only a clean locker area (you get your £1 coin back when you take your clothes out of the locker). It's a super nice pool and people.

A none too crowded (at the time of early morning my visit), well-ordered facility. Lanes are speed-differentiated and swimmers show good lane discipline. Friendly and helpful staff, both at reception and at poolside. Although I share with other reviewers a preference for gender-specific locker rooms, the mixed arrangements at the facility do accommodate a number of separate shower cubicles, thus making it possible to get yourself ready for the day ahead unencumbered by swimming kit. I also share the concern that the 'no outdoor footwear in the locker room' rule seems to be ignored by a fair number of users.

I swam at 'The Commie' directly after arriving on the overnight sleeping car train from London. The experience was well worth the combined cost of admission plus the £6 taxi fare from Edinburgh Waverley Train Station (which I could have avoided by taking a 20 minute walk). Work takes me to Edinburgh two or three times a year: a visit to 'The Commie' is now set to become part of my usual routine when arriving in the City.

This is a nice place to get a good workout. Although the lap lanes were busy the two times I visited, it never felt crowded. I find co-ed family-style locker rooms unusual, but they seems to be popular in Scotland. You have to change clothes in a private room and then carry your stuff to a locker; you also have to shower with your suit on. Bring your own towel and shampoo. Locks require a £1.00 coin.

I visited in June 2014, mid-morning and mid-week. It's expensive but well maintained and it was a treat to swim at such a renowned pool. There were four lanes out in the 50m pool, slow/medium/fast/training aids, plus a general open area. The water was a bit warm but wonderfully clear. Lockers, cubicles, etc. were all in good nick. Recommended!

A nice, newly refurbished facility, but it tends to be crowded and the locker rooms are not always clean because of people entering with their shoes on, even though blue shoe covers are offered at the entrance. Actually, this is weird for a refurbished facility. They should have made sure that the areas where one may walk with shoes on is separate from the areas where patrons go barefoot. It's quite expensive, but there seems to be no verification of whether you paid or not.

A beautiful facility with clean locker rooms. Lanes for fast, slow, and medium speed swimmers. No fins or kick-boards allowed during public swimming.

This is a busy pool but, if you choose your times, you can have some quieter swimming. Now has a fitness centre with gym. Lanes sessions always have a wide non-laned area. Lockers are small and narrow. Expensive for a short swim. Easy access on major bus routes heading South from the city.