If you are aged 18 or under, or 60 and over, then you qualify for free swimming in County Durham. Find out more about where you can go to swim....
Our extended free swimming programme began on April 1 2009 and offers any County Durham resident who is under 19 years old or over 60, the opportunity to swim for free at all ten public pools across the county.
All ten public swimming pools in County Durham are included in the scheme which gives you the chance to swim without paying during any public swimming session at any of the ten pools listed below.
All you have to do is register at any of the pools you would like to swim at. Registration is simple and free.
This programme will run for an initial two year period. Specific terms and conditions may also apply at your local pool. Contact individual centres for further details - follow the links in the page or use the contacts at the bottom of the page.
Pool contacts and public swimming sessions
Please note that pool opening hours and public swimming session times are subject to change and occasional closures without notice. You should contact your local pool to check availability before setting off.
Please note: the times below are for free swimming, and not the full opening hours for the swimming pools.
See our free swimming video.
Glenholme Leisure Complex
- Monday: 9.00am - 7.00pm. Adults only 7.00pm - 9.00pm
- Tuesday: 9.00am - 8.00pm. Adults only 8.00pm - 9.00pm
- Wednesday: 9.00am - 7.30pm. Adults only 7.30pm-9.00pm
- Thursday: 9.00am - 4.00pm. Ladies only 8.00pm - 9.00pm
- Friday: 9.00am - 4.00pm
- Saturday: 9.30am - 4.00pm
- Sunday: 9.00am - 1.00pm
Lane swimming: Monday - Saturday 12.00noon - 1.00pm (two lanes).
Last admission: 30 minutes before end of session.
More information about Glenholme Leisure Complex.
Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex
Large pool opening times
- Monday: 9.00am - 4.00pm and 6.30pm - 7.30pm
- Tuesday: 8.00am - 4.00pm and 6.30pm - 7.30pm
- Wednesday: 9.00am - 4.00pm
- Thursday: 8.00am - 4.00pm and 6.30pm - 7.30pm
- Friday: 9.00am - 7.00pm
- Saturday: 8.30am - 3.30pm
- Sunday: 8.30am - 3.30pm
Small pool opening times
- Monday: 12.00noon - 1.00pm and 3.00pm - 4.30pm
- Tuesday: 12.00noon - 1.00pm and 3.30pm - 4.30pm
- Wednesday: 12.00noon - 1.00pm and 3.00pm - 4.30pm
- Thursday: 3.00pm - 4.00pm
- Friday: 3.30pm - 7.30pm
- Saturday: 11.30am - 3.30pm*
- Sunday: 8.30am - 3.30pm*
*Bookable pool parties between 1.00pm - 2.00pm
Lane swimming: Monday - Friday 12.00noon - 1.00pm and Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 3.00pm - 4.00pm.
Last admission: 30 minutes before the end of swim session.
More information about Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex.
Freeman’s Quay Leisure Centre
Large pool opening times
- Monday: 6.30am - 10.30pm
- Tuesday: 6.30am - 10.30pm
- Wednesday: 6.30am - 6.00pm
- Thursday: 6.30am - 10.30pm
- Friday: 6.30am - 9.30pm
- Saturday: 9.00am - 6.30pm
- Sunday: 11.00am - 5.00pm
Small pool opening times
- Monday: 3.00pm - 4.00pm
- Tuesday: 9.00am - 10.00am and 3.00pm - 4.00pm
- Wednesday: 9.00am - 10.00am
- Thursday: 9.00am - 10.00am and 3.00pm - 4.00pm
- Friday: 3.00pm - 4.00pm and 7.00pm - 9.30pm
- Saturday: 8.00am - 9.00am and 10.30am - 7.30pm
- Sunday: 8.00am - 5.00pm
More information about Freeman's Quay Leisure Centre
Teesdale Leisure Centre
School Term
Large pool opening times:
- Monday: 9.00am - 12.00noon and 3.00pm - 4.00pm and 6.00pm to 8.00pm
- Tuesday: 9.00pm - 12.00noon and 3.00pm - 4.00pm
- Wednesday: 9.00am - 11.30am and 3.00pm - 4.00pm and 7.15pm - 8.00pm
- Thursday: 9.00am - 12.00noon and 3.00pm - 4.00pm and 6.00pm - 8.00pm
- Friday: 9.00am - 11.30am and 3.00pm - 4.00pm
- Saturday: 1.00pm - 5.00pm
- Sunday: 9.00am - 11.00am and 1.00pm - 7.30pm
Small pool opening times:
- Monday: 11.00am - 1.00pm and 3.00pm - 6.30pm
- Tuesday: 11.30am - 1.00pm and 3.00pm - 6.00pm
- Wednesday: 12.00noon - 1.00pm and 3.00pm - 6.30pm
- Thursday: 11.00am - 1.00pm and 3.00pm - 6.30pm
- Friday: 11.00am - 1.00pm and 3.00pm - 6.30pm
- Saturday: 9.00am - 5.00pm
- Sunday: 9.00am - 5.00pm
School Holidays
Large pool opening times:
- Monday: 1.00pm - 3.00pm and 4.00pm - 7.30pm
- Tuesday: 1.00pm - 3.00pm and 4.00pm - 6.00pm
- Wednesday: 1.00pm - 3.00pm and 4.00pm - 7.30pm
- Thursday: 1.00pm - 3.00pm and 4.00pm - 7.30pm
- Friday: 1.00pm - 3.00pm and 4.00pm - 7.30pm
- Saturday: 9.00am - 11.00am and 1.00pm - 5.00pm
- Sunday: 9.00am - 11.00am and 1.00pm - 7.30pm
Small pool opening times:
- Monday: 10.30am - 6.00pm
- Tuesday: 10.30am - 6.00pm
- Wednesday: 10.30am - 6.00pm
- Thursday: 10.30am - 6.00pm
- Friday: 10.30am - 6.00pm
- Saturday: 9.00am - 5.00pm
- Sunday: 9.00am - 5.00pm
More information about Teesdale Leisure Centre
The Louisa Centre
Main pool opening times:
- Monday: 8.00am - 10.00am and 11.00am - 4.00pm (6.30pm - 7.30pm ladies only)
- Tuesday: 8.00am - 11.00am and 12.00noon - 6.30pm (6.30pm - 7.30pm adults only)
- Wednesday: 8.00am - 4.00pm (6.30pm - 7.30pm adults only)
- Thursday: 8.00am - 10.30am and 1.00pm - 4.00pm and 6.00pm - 8.00pm
- Friday: 8.00am - 10.00am and 12.00noon - 4.00pm
- Saturday: 9.00am - 4.00pm
- Sunday: 8.00am - 4.00pm
Small pool opening times:
- Monday: 8.00am - 3.30pm and 6.30pm - 8.00pm
- Tuesday: 8.00am - 11.00am and 12.00noon - 3.30pm and 6.30pm - 8.00pm
- Wednesday: 8.00am - 9.30am and 11.30pm - 3.30pm and 6.30pm - 8.00pm
- Thursday: 8.00am - 9.30am and 12.00noon - 3.30pm and 6.30pm - 8.00pm
- Friday: 8.00am - 11.00am and 12 noon - 1.00pm
- Saturday: 12.00noon - 3.30pm
- Sunday: 8.00am - 9.00am and 11.00am - 4.00pm
The pool is occasionally used for programmed/private sessions. Please call the above number or call into the centre for full timetable information. Pool timetables can also be downloaded at Leisureworks
More information about the Louisa Centre
Belle Vue Swim Centre
Main pool opening times:
- Monday: 8.00am - 11.00am, 11.00am - 12.00noon (over 50s), 12.00noon - 8.00pm
- Tuesday: 8.00am - 10.00am and 11.00am - 4.00pm, (6.30pm - 8.00pm family fun)
- Wednesday: 8.00am - 11.00am and 12.00noon - 4.00pm and 6.00pm - 8.00pm
- Thursday: 8.00am - 10.00am, 10.00am - 11.00am (ladies only), 11.00am - 12.00noon (over 50s)
- Friday: 8.00am - 10.00am and 12.00noon - 4.00pm
- Saturday: 9.00am - 4.00pm. Slide 10.30am - 11.45am
- Sunday: 8.00am - 12.30pm. Slide 10.30am - 11.45am
Small pool opening times:
- Monday: 12.00noon - 2.00pm (parent and toddler) 6.30pm - 8.00pm
- Tuesday: 12.00noon - 2.00pm (parent and toddler) 6.30pm - 8.00pm
- Wednesday: 12.00noon - 2.00pm (parent and toddler) 6.30pm - 8.00pm
- Thursday: 12.00noon - 2.00pm (parent and toddler), 12.00noon - 4.00pm (6.30pm - 8.30pm adults only)
- Friday: 12.00noon - 2.00pm (parent and toddler)
- Saturday: 12.00noon - 4.00pm
- Sunday: 8.00am - 12.30pm
The pool is occasionally used for programmed/private sessions. Please call the above number or call into the centre for full timetable information. Pool timetables can also be downloaded at Leisureworks
More information about Belle Vue Swim Centre
Chester-le-Street Leisure Centre
Main pool opening times:
- Monday: 7.30am - 9.00pm
- Tuesday: 9.00am - 4.00pm, 5.30pm - 7.30pm and 9.00pm - 10.00pm
- Wednesday: 7.30am - 8.30pm
- Thursday: 9.00am - 4.00pm and 5.30pm - 10.00pm
- Friday: 7.30am - 11.00am, 12.00noon - 4.00pm and 5.30pm - 7.00pm
- Saturday: 11.00am - 5.30pm
- Sunday: 9.00am - 2.00pm
Learner pool opening times:
- Monday: 9.30am - 8.00pm
- Tuesday: 9.30am - 11.00am, 12.00noon - 1.30pm and 2.30pm - 4.00pm
- Wednesday: 9.30am - 11.00am, 12.00noon - 1.30pm and 2.30pm - 4.00pm
- Thursday: 9.30am - 11.00am, 12.00noon - 1.30pm and 2.30pm - 4.00pm
- Friday: 9.00am - 11.00am and 12.00noon - 1.30pm
- Saturday: 12.30am - 4.00pm
- Sunday: 9.00am - 2.00pm
More information about Chester-le-Street Leisure Centre
Peterlee Leisure Centre
Large pool opening times:
- Monday: 8.15am - 6.00pm
- Tuesday: 8.15am - 5.30pm
- Wednesday: 8.15am - 9.00pm
- Thursday: 8.15am - 4.30pm
- Friday: 8.15am - 6.00pm
- Saturday: 9.00am - 7.00pm
- Sunday: 9.00am - 9.00pm
Small pool opening times:
- Monday: 9.00am - 1.30pm and 5.30pm - 8.00pm
- Tuesday: 12.00noon - 4.00pm
- Wednesday: 9.00am - 1.00pm and 2.30pm - 4.00pm
- Thursday: 9.00am - 4.00pm and 6.30pm - 8.00pm
- Friday: 9.00am - 9.00pm
- Saturday: 12.00noon - 7.00pm
- Sunday: 9.00am - 1.30pm and 6.00pm - 8.30pm
More information about Peterlee Leisure Centre
Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre
- Monday: 7.00am - 8.30am, 12 noon - 1.30pm
- Tuesday: 7.00am - 10.30am, 12 noon - 1.30pm, 6.00pm - 8.00pm
- Wednesday: 7.00am - 8.30am, 12 noon - 1.30pm, 6.00pm - 7.00pm
- Thursday: 8.00am - 10.00am, 12 noon - 1.30pm, 6.00pm - 8.00pm
- Friday: 12 noon - 1.30pm, 6.00pm - 8.00pm
- Saturday: 10.00am - 3.00pm
- Sunday: 10.00am - 3.00pm
Timetables are subject to change. School children may only access sessions outside of normal school hours. Users must possess a B:Active card to access the free swimming. Application forms for the cards are available at the centre. Pool access policy applies.
Apply on-line for a B:Active Card
More information about Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre
Spennymoor Leisure Centre
- Monday: 7.00am - 9.00am, 12.00noon - 1.00pm, 7.00pm - 8.00pm
- Tuesday: 12.00noon - 1.00pm
- Wednesday: 7.00am - 8.30am, 12.00noon - 1.00pm, 7.00pm - 8.00pm
- Thursday: 12.00noon - 1.00pm, 6.00pm - 8.00pm
- Friday: 12.00noon - 1.00pm, 6.00pm - 8.00pm
- Saturday: 10.00am - 3.00pm
- Sunday: 10.00am - 3.00pm
Pool access policy applies. Timetables are subject to change. School children may only access sessions outside of normal school hours. Users must possess a B:Active card to access the free swimming. Application forms for the cards are available at the centre. Waves and slide only operate on evenings and weekends.
Apply on-line for a B:Active Card
More information about Spennymoor Leisure Centre
Swimming is a life skill, learn it and use it with Durham County Leisure
