About Swim is the UK's largest directory of adult swimming lessons, connecting learners with over 1,000 verified schools across 50+ cities.
What is About Swim?
About Swim is a free online directory that helps adults find local swimming lessons in the UK. Users search by city or town and receive a curated list of verified swimming schools, each with pricing, ratings, reviews, and direct contact information. The platform is a web-based directory maintained by About Swim, with no download required.
Key Features
- Verified directory — Lists over 1,000 swimming schools across 50+ UK cities, all verified for qualification and safety.
- Comprehensive filters — Search by location, lesson type (group classes £15–30, private lessons £40–75, intensive courses £150–300), and special programmes (women-only, nervous-beginner, over-50s).
- School profiles — Each school includes a description, average rating (4.8★ overall), contact details, website link, and address.
- Pricing transparency — Displays typical price ranges for different lesson types, with London and South East prices 15–20% higher than the UK average.
- Expert guides — Free articles on water confidence, stroke technique, nutrition, and fitness swimming. Relevant links: 5 Basic Swimming Skills, Breaststroke Mistakes, Balanced Diet for Swimmers.
- Popular locations — Dedicated pages for major cities like London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow (e.g., London lessons).
Who is it for?
- Adult beginners — Find beginner-friendly group or private lessons to learn swimming from scratch.
- Nervous swimmers — Locate specialised classes with small groups and patient instructors trained in water phobia (e.g., nervous swimmer programmes).
- Fitness swimmers — Access stroke refinement and endurance training (see fitness swimming guide).
- Triathlon trainees — Discover coaching for sprint and Olympic-distance events.
What can you do with About Swim?
- Find local lessons — Enter a city or town to see all available schools in that area.
- Compare schools — View ratings, reviews, and contact info side-by-side.
- Read expert advice — Access guides on lesson costs, flexible scheduling, and skill improvement.
- Contact schools directly — Call or email schools listed on their profiles.
FAQ
Where can I find flexible swimming lessons?
Many schools offer evening, weekend, and early morning sessions. The directory includes filters to find schools matching your schedule. Many providers allow online booking and rescheduling. Block booking packages typically lock in a time slot for 4–10 weeks.
How much do swimming lessons cost?
Group lessons average £15–30 per session, private one-to-one lessons £40–75 per hour, and intensive crash courses £150–300 for a full programme. Prices vary by city; London and the South East are 15–20% higher. Some council leisure centres offer subsidised sessions for £5–10.
Are there lessons for nervous swimmers?
Yes. Many schools specialise in adult beginners with water anxiety, using small classes (2–4 people), shallow-water warm-ups, and patient instructors. The first session focuses on water confidence before stroke teaching. Look for "nervous swimmers" or "water confidence" in descriptions.
Can I swim for fitness and endurance?
Yes. Many schools offer fitness-focused programmes with stroke technique refinement, interval training, and distance targets. Swimming burns 400–700 calories per hour with low joint impact. Some also offer triathlon swim coaching.
