Books about pools
Books about lidos and pools in my collection.
The links are Amazon Affiliate ones so please search yourself for the title if you prefer not to click through.
 | Twentieth Century Seaside Architecture |
 | Sea Pools: 66 saltwater sanctuaries from around the world |
 | The Swimming Pool in Photography Delicious browsing book full of vintage black and white images, indoor, outdoor, sea, water park and strange installations involving dry pool tanks under water-filled glass. Public, private and hotel pools from all around the World. Slightly disturbing image of a diving donkey. You’ll need a sturdy coffee table for this one. |
 | Wild Swimming |
 | Swell: A Waterbiography by Jenny Landreth This text switches between Jenny’s recollections of learning to swim and her experiences and well-researched histories of various women that have pushed the boundaries of swimming. These small histories encouraged me to read further into the lives of the subjects and their feats of endurance. I have the audio version of the book, read by Jenny and I enjoyed the authentic read and have listened a number of times. This title won Sports Book of the Year in 2017 but it doesn’t feel like a sports book at all. Jenny doesn’t give you tips and tricks to swim faster or longer but she’ll make you want to do it more often. The chapter on sea swimming abroad is inspiring. |
 | The Lido Guide An uppdated edition for 2024, this comprehensive guide by Emma Pusill and Janet Wilkinson covers the UK and Channel Islands. Each pool has up to date information regarding the pool itself, contact information, facilities and opening seasons. More importantly, whether or not it is a heated pool. |
 | Watermarks: Writing by Lido Lovers and Wild Swimmers |
 | Out of the Blue: A Celebration of Brockwell Park Lido |
 | Liquid Assets: The Lidos and Open Air Swimming Pools of Britain The ultimate lido guide full of great images, meticulously researched details and an extensive list of pools current and lost. This book is out of print but can be obtained used from Amazon or eBay. The list at the back proves the scale of the task of identifying every single outdoor pool as it is a long list but certainly not all of them. It has chapters on some of the derelict pools at the time. Some of these have been lost but it is heartening to know that London Fields Lido was saved and is going strong and Broomhill Park is about to be restored. |
 | Great Lengths: The Historic Indoor Swimming Pools of Britain The companion book to Liquid Assets, focussing on indoor pools. Follows the same format and has a wealth of information and superb photographs including architectural plans. Includes discussion of slipper baths and laundries that often formed part of municipal buildings. |
 | Lido: A dip into outdoor swimming pools: the history, design and people behind them A book full of spectacular photographs of lidos and pools around the world. You’ll want to visit all of them! A sufficient number of UK pools if that is your main interest plus fabulous architecture from Europe that are within easy(ish) distance to possibly visit the ones that remain. |
 | Ebb and Flow Celebrating 90 Years Of Brightlingsea Lido The story of Brightlingsea Lido, as seen through the eyes of a Brightlingsea resident. The nameless narrator has watched the Lido from its inception in 1932 up to the present day. Their father was one of the men responsible for building it and their own family history is closely entwined with the fortunes of the Lido. |
 | The Swimming Pool: Inspiration and Style from Around the World |
