Swimming in Alnwick

Whether you want a casual lane swim, lessons for the children, or a club to train with competitively, Alnwick has a solid swimming offer centred on one main facility. Here is your guide to swimming in and around the town.

Willowburn Sports and Leisure Centre

Willowburn Sports and Leisure Centre on Willowburn Avenue (NE66 2JH) is Alnwick's main swimming venue. The centre is managed by Places Leisure and features two pools:

• A 25-metre, six-lane main pool with a moveable floor, allowing the depth to be adjusted for different sessions and user groups.
• A 10-metre teaching pool, ideal for younger children and beginners.

The main pool hosts a mix of public sessions throughout the week, including general lane swimming, family fun sessions, and inflatable sessions for children. Aquafit classes are also available for those who prefer a workout in the water.

Best for: Willowburn has a full-size 25m pool and a separate teaching pool, both open to the public.

Swimming lessons

Places Leisure offers a structured swim lesson programme at Willowburn, covering all ages and abilities from babies and toddlers through to adults. Lessons focus on building water confidence, learning core skills, and progressing through the national Learn to Swim framework. The teaching pool is particularly well suited to younger or less confident swimmers, providing a shallow, warm environment to build skills.

Lesson availability can be checked and booked online through the Places Leisure website. Spaces do fill up quickly, so it is worth registering early, particularly for the autumn and January intakes.

Best for: Swimming lessons run for all ages at Willowburn. Book early as places fill quickly.

Alnwick Dolphins Swimming Club

For children and young people who want to take their swimming further, Alnwick Dolphins is the local competitive swimming club based at Willowburn. The club caters for swimmers from beginners through to those competing at regional and national level, with a well-structured squad system.

Squads range from the introductory Flying Fish group through to the Performance Squad, with coaching tailored to each level. Training sessions use dedicated pool time with lane ropes and dive blocks set up for proper competitive practice. Club members need a monthly Dolphins membership with the leisure centre, currently costing around 19 pounds per month, which also gives access to public swimming sessions outside training times.

The club is a friendly and welcoming setup, and new members are encouraged to get in touch through the Alnwick Dolphins website.

Best for: Alnwick Dolphins offers competitive swimming coaching for all levels, from beginners upwards.

Other facilities in the area

Willowburn is the only public swimming pool in Alnwick itself, but there are other options within reasonable driving distance:

• Blyth Sports Centre and Ponteland Leisure Centre offer additional pool facilities further south, both managed by Active Northumberland.
• Berwick Leisure Centre, roughly 30 miles north, has a pool and is a good option for families in the northern part of the county.
• Some hotels and holiday parks in the area have pools available to guests or day visitors, though availability varies seasonally.

For open-water swimming, the Northumberland coast is on the doorstep. Beaches at Alnmouth, Embleton Bay, and Low Newton are popular spots, though open-water swimming should always be approached with caution and ideally with experienced company.

Beyond the pool

Willowburn is more than just a swimming venue. The centre also has a gym, a bouldering wall, a six-court sports hall, and a programme of fitness classes. It is a genuine community hub and worth exploring even if you are not a regular swimmer.

For timetables, pricing, and booking, visit the Places Leisure website or contact the centre on 01670 620200.