Does anyone know of any simming baths near London Road?

I work on London Road and would like to go swimming in a morning before I start work at 9am! I must be crazy.

Is Heeley Baths on Broadfield Road still open? Wasn't particularly nice last time I went years ago but at least it was wet :)

As well as Heeley baths there's now the Virgin gym place - I think has a pool or two.

Nomme

I don't know anywhere that would be open at that time in a morning. Ponds Forge is closest one I am aware of with a proper size pool

Thanks for the response.

I am looking for somewhere cheap. I don't think virgin would be cheap. :)

I don't really want to have to go to ponds forge. I'd rather be closer to work so I can make sure I'm not late.

Don't want muc do I? :)

Tried calling Heeley but no answer, wonder if it is in fact open anymore...

Virgin wont let you just use their pool you have to sign up at a cost of over £40 per month, far too much for me.

I used to be a member of fitness unlimited but I cancelled because I had trouble of a motivational type :D

Don't particularly want to sign another membership but It looks like I may have to.

Heeley is definitely still open (well it was last week anyway!). I don't know about swimming times in the morning but they're open til quite late in the evening if you wanted to go after work.

I've just been informed that Heeley baths is, for want of a better word, a dump.

So....I've decided to join Ponds Forge again but go for the off peack membership which is only £20 per month and I can go in the mornings and all day sat and sun so that's quite good really.

Also does anyone know if it's bad to exercise in a morning? Maybe I'm crazy but I'm sure someone told me it wasn't good for you.

I hope it's not bad to exercize in the mornings - my gym is open from 7am every morning.

NOT that I go at that time you understand...

In a morning is ok but just before bed ain't a brilliant idea.

Like I said about Heeley it isn't exactly going to win any presentation awards but it's wet and that's all you need isn't it? It's not as though the water isn't treated.

Originally posted by steelblade
I've just been informed that Heeley baths is, for want of a better word, a dump.

So....I've decided to join Ponds Forge again but go for the off peack membership which is only £20 per month and I can go in the mornings and all day sat and sun so that's quite good really.

Also does anyone know if it's bad to exercise in a morning? Maybe I'm crazy but I'm sure someone told me it wasn't good for you.

Heeley Baths is not a dump.

I take offence to that. I really do. It is a fine old Victorian building and is very clean. It is extremly popular and has a wonderful ambience about it. I go there two or three times a week. I love it dearly.

It is open for early morning swims on Mondays and Wednesdays between 7 and 9 am and it costs £3.

I'm so sorry if it's not good enough for you.

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
Heeley Baths is not a dump.

I take offence to that. I really do. It is a fine old Victorian building and is very clean. It is extremly popular and has a wonderful ambience about it. I go there two or three times a week. I love it dearly.

It is open for early morning swims on Mondays and Wednesdays between 7 and 9 am and it costs £3.

I'm so sorry if it's not good enough for you.

Hear hear! Or Here here! Or whatever it is...

Heeley baths is lovely if you just want a swim, I HATE Ponds Forge with a passion, at Heeley you don't get any stupid gangs of idiots shouting at each other, making out with their girlfriends in the corner of the pool, or spitting in the water.

It's cheap to get in, and it's even got a viewing gallery, and the staff are genuinely friendly, rather than just saying 'i just work here on saturdays' or wahtever it is they say at the big commercial places. I LIKE Heeley baths and wish I had time to go there more often.




PS....be careful of the naked old women in the showers. :D

Thanks , Rosie. Catch you there sometime. Considering I don't know how you look, I'll just swim around shouting 'where's Rosie?!!!'.

You'll answer one day.

Originally posted by steelblade
I've just been informed that Heeley baths is, for want of a better word, a dump.

So....I've decided to join Ponds Forge again but go for the off peack membership which is only £20 per month and I can go in the mornings and all day sat and sun so that's quite good really.

Also does anyone know if it's bad to exercise in a morning? Maybe I'm crazy but I'm sure someone told me it wasn't good for you.

Are you talking about the same Heely Baths I go to, as that one is by no means a dump.

Yes it old and dated compared to Ponds Forge (which is only 15 years old) It is clean, no shoes on pool side, it has a thriving swimming club, and also other sessions, like aquarobics, aquababies (which I've been to), and it is good value for money.

I find Ponds Forge always messy when I have been, and was told once that i could wash myself after I had been swimming. Now I used to swim for the Army Cadet Force and also done Life guard training and have never been told I couldn't wash after a swim in colrinated water. Lots of unruly kids at ponds forge as well, not at heely the life guards are quite strict on bad behaviour as it is a communtiy pool.

And the showering and changing facilities for the leisure pool at Pond's Forge are nothing short of appalling. You can't get your kit off for a proper shower as they are public, and the changing room is a unisex small-cubicled nightmare.