Sport Central Swimming Pool - Northumbria University Newcastle

During university holidays this pool is the best. It's really quiet during summer - all six lanes available. The hours are limited though - 7 to 10 AM, noon to 2 PM, and 5 to 7 PM on weekdays; on weekends, it's 7 to 9 AM and 3 to 5 PM. Even though it's a bit warmer than it used to be (26º - 27ºC), it's still better than many other pools in the UK. Its clean, the showers are fine, the lockers and changing cubicles are a bit small but that's OK, and the lockers take only the old pound coin.

The best thing is that the lifeguards are really proactive - I have been swimming here for two months and only three times have I had a breaststroker get in with me - it took less than 50m before they were stopped by the lifeguards and moved.

There's no dedicated parking, although you can find paid for street parking and parking buildings nearby.

If swimming classes are taking place there are often just three lanes available for lap swimming, and the times of the classes are hard to determine: it is wise to phone in advance. The pool has a moveable floor; this makes the pool too shallow to swim freestyle properly during lessons. The changing area has deteriorated in the past few years. Recently there were no hairdryers working.

The pool itself is still great, if you can find a time when it is not too busy. This is not easy to do in my experience.

This is a great pool for lap swimming. Always laned, training schedules available, water temperature cool. Mixed shower/changing area with individual changing rooms, heated floor, hairdryers. Drinking water available near reception on the way in.