Strand Lido in Gillingham, Kent, has reopened for the summer season, just in time for the UK's third expected heatwave in 2026. The lido, which first opened in 1896, features a 300-metre lazy river, a splash pad, and striking blue waters that many visitors compare to pools in Greece and the Mediterranean.
Unique Saltwater Pool
The lido is the only riverside saltwater pool in the UK, fed directly from the River Medway. The water is filtered and chlorinated for safety. The Lido Guide described it as "a riot of Mediterranean-resort-style colour and fun" that gives the water "a hue that is more reminiscent of Greece than Kent."
Facilities and Sessions
The pool offers six 25-metre lanes for swimming, a toddler paddling pool, and water fountains. It is unheated and operates seasonally. It reopened on May 23, 2026, and is open weekends until the school summer holidays, when it operates daily until September. Two sessions are available: 10:30am–1:30pm and 2:30pm–5:30pm. Tickets must be booked online via the Medway Council website.
Additional Amenities
The complex includes sunbathing areas, a café, picnic spots, play areas, changing rooms, poolside showers, and a shop selling inflatables. The Strand Leisure Park also features a seasonal miniature railway and riverside walks. A visitor from Suffolk said: "Lovely day out. Pool has a lazy river, kids pool and adult pool... Lots of space to set up camp." Another added: "Looks like we are on holiday. Lazy river all around the outside (take a rubber ring)."
