The Best Swimming Lessons in Leeds Making a Splash Among Students of All Levels
Are you scared of drowning? So am I. I nearly drowned once when I was a child, and that was enough to put me off swimming pools and beaches for a long time!
But in my early 20s, I realised that swimming is a life skill I need to learn. So, I decided to sign up for swimming lessons. Fast forward a few years, and I’m still terrified of drowning, but now I’m equipped to avoid it.
Here are the places offering the best swimming lessons in Leeds if you also want to learn this invaluable life skill.
How much does a swimming lesson cost in Leeds?
Swimming lessons in Leeds usually cost around £10 per session. Some offer memberships, and these range between £30 and £50 per month.
Bramley Baths
Address: Bramley Baths, Broad Ln, Bramley
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—6:30 am to 9 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—7 am to 4 pm
Contact Number:
Bramley Baths first caught my attention when I heard that it was the last remaining Edwardian bathhouse in Leeds. Curious, I went there, and I immediately fell in love with the historic vibe of the place!
Fortunately, this leisure centre offers swimming classes, so I have reason to come back again and again.
What I like most about Bramley Baths is that they offer a good variety of classes—from toddlers to adults! They even have crash courses, which are only about 30 minutes. And if you don’t want to be in a group, you can have a private class instead.
I have to commend the instructors here. They’re friendly and welcoming, not to mention cheerful. Because of this, it’s easy to feel excited and motivated for the next sessions.
The prices are reasonable as well. Individual sessions are around £9 each, but if you want to save, you can get their membership, which costs £35 per month. This rate already includes access to the classes and all facilities.
That said, the communication here could be better. There were times when I sent emails, and no one responded until I called. It can be really annoying.
Customer Reviews
Nice atmosphere, friendly instructors
“Building is old but I had swimming lessons here for many years and every instructor I had was great. I have only been to the family fun session a few times but they were pretty good. I think my only complaint would be that whenever you go up the stairs to the viewing area, it’s REALLY warm which sometimes is a good thing but sometimes a bad thing. I have never been to it but it also has a gym and I think a sauna? Anyway, the gym looked good and it’s got a nice atmosphere. The last thing I would say is that is next to a big road which makes it accessible and (fairly) easy to get to.”
- The %, Google Review
Fun and lovely instructors
“Brilliant little gym with a beautiful Edwardian-style pool. Lots of classes to choose from and the instructors are great fun and lovely people. Great value for money. Would highly recommend. Update: Still a great gym. Love going to the classes and they are getting a load of new equipment at the end of Feb. The new equipment is brilliant.”
- Luke Weatherfill, Google Review
Swim Now
Address: Neville St, Hilton Leeds City
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—8 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +443339398231
Looking for a swimming school right at the heart of the city? Then, look no further than Swim Now! This school is literally just a short walk away from the train station, so travelling to and from this place should be no problem.
This school also caters to students of all ages, and they will tailor the classes based on your ability. That’s why they will have an assessment before you start your lessons; this way, they can see your strengths and areas for improvement.
I also like that the school is flexible when it comes to teachers. If you’re not vibing with a certain instructor, you’re more than welcome to switch—no hard feelings at all. This is especially helpful for kids, who might be picky with the people they interact with.
Though if you were to ask me, there’s no need to switch instructors because they’re all so lovely. My sister says that her instructor always gives clear feedback, making it easier to work on the issue.
However, I’ve heard some issues regarding the lack of warning. One client shared that some of her classes got cancelled or rescheduled without notice, which is so frustrating.
Customer Reviews
Fun and constructive lessons
“Sam is my son’s swimming teacher. My son is 6 and was a bit nervous before the first lesson, but Sam is really friendly and soon put my son at ease. The lessons are fun but also constructive and my son has come a long way in a really short space of time! I’ve been really impressed by the quality of the swimming lessons and the progress my son has made.”
- Paul Rawlings, Google Review
Fun-filled classes
“My son recently started swimming lessons with Swim Now’s Sam in Leeds. I cannot recommend Sam highly enough, my son thinks he’s wonderful! Sam has such a friendly, kind, patient and professional manner. His lessons are fun-filled, energetic and exactly what my 6-year-old needs and loves. He’s thorough, making sure the basics are learnt properly right from the first lesson. My son’s confidence has soared since starting his lessons with Sam. We highly recommend him.”
- Susy Martin, Google Review
Roundhay Swim Ltd
Address: 35 Chelwood Dr, Moortown
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday—9 am to 5 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—9 am to 4 pm
Contact Number: +441133450600
Good news: Roundhay Swim Ltd. is a fantastic swimming school for kids. They even have classes for babies younger than six months old! Bad news: Roundhay Swim is for kids exclusively, so it’s not suitable for adult students.
However, if you’re a young student or a parent, you’d be glad to know that other students and their parents find the instructors good at what they do.
They don’t have a rigid structure; instead, they let the child lead the progression of the class. As a result, the child can simply focus on improving instead of trying to catch up.
Additionally, the instructors are good at reading baby cues in the water, which is impressive. They also keep the classes fun and engaging, so no one gets bored.
I also appreciate the facilities of this school. In addition to the clean pool, it also has baby changing stations and a comfortable lounge area. The whole place is breastfeeding-friendly, too.
The classes are priced at £15, which is slightly expensive. Plus, you’ll be required to pay ahead of time, and they don’t accept credit cards, which is a bummer.
Customer Reviews
Kind and patient instructors
“If you’re looking for swimming lessons in North Leeds then this is the place for you. I have been taking my daughter weekly since she was about 8 months old for the past 2 years and she loves these classes. Katie our instructor is kind, patient and helps cater lessons to how each child is feeling and their ability even in a group session. The lessons are fun and engaging and the facilities are clean, tidy and hygienic. The prices are in line with the average costs in Leeds for 30-minute lessons. Could not recommend Zoe and her fabulous team more!”
- Shivana Thomas, Google Review
Well-maintained facilities, fun classes
“We’ve been going here since it first opened with our daughter from a young age. The classes are great and her confidence in the water has grown throughout this time. We’ve experienced a range of teachers, all have been brilliant – teaching the core syllabus but adding their own personality to keep the lessons fun. The facilities are well maintained and perfect size for children as they are less daunting and more friendly feel than a leisure centre. The lessons are more expensive than others (council lessons) but you really do get what you pay for.”
- Jonathan Styles, Google Review
Nemo Swim School Leeds
Address: Britannia Hotel Spindles Gym, Bramhope
Distance from Leeds: Around 30 minutes
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—9 am to 8 pm
- Saturday—8:30 am to 3 pm
Contact Number: +447562471180
Nemo Swim School Leeds is another one that caters mostly to young students. That said, this school does offer other types of swimming-adjacent classes, such as scuba diving. Plus, for scuba diving, they do accept older students, which is good news.
Parents are impressed with the instructors because they know how to handle young students. One mother told me that her child’s instructor balanced being challenging and easygoing really well, and that’s why the kid was always excited to attend the classes.
Parents also love the instructors’ patience. Many of the young students are scared of water, so it’s hard to teach them sometimes. But the instructors take the time to assure them, and before anyone knows it, the students are totally comfortable in the water.
The facilities here are well-maintained, which I appreciate. Plus, the pool area is warm, clean, and peaceful, making it easy to focus on the lessons.
The one downside to this school is that it’s located outside of Leeds. Fortunately, it’s around a half-hour drive away, so it’s not too far.
Customer Reviews
Challenging but fun classes
“My girls love their swimming lessons with Nemo. They’ve come on tremendously in the time they’ve been with him, doing strokes I can’t even do! He challenges them but in a fun way. They are confident and happy in the water, and that’s what you want as a parent!”
- Michelle Howard, Google Review
Builds confidence
“My daughter has been swimming with Nemo for about three years. She loves it! Her confidence has grown a lot and she can safely manage her way around a swimming pool on her own. Thanks!”
- Gaby Vellest, Google Review
John Smeaton Leisure Centre
Address: Smeaton Approach, Barwick Rd
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Friday—6 am to 9:30 pm
- Tuesday to Thursday—6 am to 10 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—8 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +441133760398
If you’re looking for a school offering affordable classes, then John Smeaton Leisure Centre is the best place to check out. The rates here range between £5 and £7 per session, and if you have a LeedsCard, you can get extra discounts!
However, since the classes are so cheap, they get filled up so fast. So, if you’re interested, there’s no time to hesitate. You have to book your session ASAP!
This centre offers lessons for all types of students, regardless of age (from babies and toddlers to fully grown adults) and experience level (from beginners to advanced). They even have programs for people with disabilities, and I love that.
I appreciate the staff here as well. I’ve noticed that they’re warm and welcoming, and the instructors are chill and friendly. As a result, I can just relax and focus on the lesson. It’s like having a friend teaching you.
The facilities are generally well-kept, too. The pool area is pretty clean, and there are some vending machines if you need some snacks.
Customer Reviews
Friendly and helpful gym instructors
“The gym is so airy, usually quiet with a decent range of weights and cardio machines. The gym instructor staff on duty are friendly and helpful.”
- Annie, Google Review
Clean facilities
“Obviously, I don’t like the fact that there are only certain times I can go swimming (any leisure centre), but this one is the cleanest leisure centre I’ve been to in Leeds. I liked it so much I’ll definitely be coming back for swimming sessions and more. With my student membership, I can visit any leisure centre, present my Leeds card and come in, no need to take money with me.”
- Naomi, Google Review