You can only return to your swimming pool if you login or register to book your aqua class or swim session online in advance (you can book up to seven days in advance). To see available sessions and classes, select 'Classes'. If you are booking a family fun session, you only need to book one place (for a maximum of 5 people).
You can also contact your leisure centre to book over the phone if you have a leisure membership only.
Non-members
If you don't have a leisure centre or swim membership, you can still book your sessions online but you must have a Thrive card. If you don't have a Thrive card, you can order this online free of charge, using the promotion code COMEBACK. Simply request your leisure centre membership online and select 'Leisure Card Adult' (normally £5). Once you've placed your order, you'll be given your Thrive card number so you can register to book your session, and we'll give you your card next time you visit the centre.
If you are under 16 you can't order a Thrive card online, you will need to come to your leisure centre with your parent/carer to register.
Lost cards (members and non-members)
If you've lost your Thrive card, please email csleisuremanagement@durham.gov.uk. We'll order a replacement card for you, and also give you your membership number so that you can login or register to book your aqua class or swim session.
Swimming lessons
We are currently reviewing our aqualearn programme in line with national guidance from Swim England. Memberships will continue to be frozen until we can update you on how we can offer these sessions safely.
Swimming timetable
See our timetable below for the week ahead. You can filter by activity or pool, and you can select a date in the future. To print the timetable for a day, select the 'Print this page' button at the bottom of the page.
The timetable is subject to change, and swim times may be disrupted due to activity set up.
Information about your session
Swim sessions are 1 hour in length, this includes time taken to enter the building and to change poolside. We aim to give you an actual swim time of up to 45 minutes.
Pools will have one-way systems in place and you must attend "beach style ready" with your swimming costume under your clothing. You'll be provided with a chair on poolside to remove your over clothing and to leave your possessions whilst you swim. You'll also be provided with your own changing area to dry yourself and to change into your clothing after the session, showers will be closed.
Family Swim sessions will be in the small pool (except Teesdale which will be in the shallow end of the large pool) and follows the same arrangements with "beach style ready" arrival and family changing facilities on exit. Families are up to five from the same bubble and you will be given a designated area in the pool to use. See our page for the latest information on adult/child ratios.
You can book up to two sessions in a day. If you book a double session, after the first session you must leave the leisure centre and re-enter, following our entry procedure.
Cancel if you can't attend
Please remember to cancel your aqua class or swim session if you're not able to attend. If possible give a minimum of 12 hours notice, so that someone else can book the place. Login to your account, as if you are going to book your session online to cancel your session.
How to use the swimming pool safely
We have extra staff in our leisure centres to support you in following the new arrangements.
We have signs in place to help you move safely around the centre and have a strict cleaning regime in place along with extra hand sanitiser and cleaning stations.
What you must know before you arrive
To ensure your safety and the safety of others, you must:
- Pre-book your lane swim, family fun session or aqua classes (you can book up to seven days in advance).
- Arrive five minutes before your session start time - if you arrive late, you will have to re-book a later session.
- Arrive "beach style ready" with your swimming costume under your clothing. If you are uncomfortable or unable to change on poolside then please contact the leisure centre.
- Children below the age of 16 years must be accompanied by a responsible person aged 16 years or over, this is to help prevent children from breaking social distancing rules.
- In the main pools only lane swimming will be available so children must be competent swimmers.
- Spectators are not allowed.
Please do not attend if you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 - see what to do if you think you have Coronavirus, which includes common symptoms.
How to enter the building
- Follow social distancing signs that are displayed outside and inside our leisure centres.
- You may need to queue outside until your session is due to start.
- Our staff will give you guidance on entering the building.
- On entering, you must sanitise your hands, scan your card and check-in with our team. When you check-in, we'll confirm that we have your correct details, so that we can support NHS test and trace.
Storing your belongings
We encourage you not to bring any valuables onto the poolside as there will be no lockers available. Belongings will be left on your designated chair on poolside during your swim.
Bring your own equipment such as arm bands, toys and floats for the family fun sessions
You will need to bring your own swimming equipment for the family fun sessions and not share it with anyone outside of your family.
How swimmers will be socially distanced
In lane swimming we will use double width lanes and reduce the amount of people allowed into them at any one time, i.e. up to 10 swimmers per double lane. Updated lane etiquette and pool rules will be enforced and signs and notices will be displayed so that you know what to expect.
You must avoid using back stroke as this will help to maintain social distancing.
Additional support
If you need extra support to access our leisure centres, or if you attend with a carer please contact your leisure centre before your visit to arrange.
Swim prices and activities
Save on every swim and aqua class, when you buy a thrive card. Call in or contact us for more information.
Swimming
General swim sessions are open to all ages and abilities, great for families to create their own fun.
| Group | Price |
|---|
| Non thrive card holder | £4.20 |
| thrive card holder | £3.80 |
| Child / concession | £2.80 |
| Under 1s | £1.00 |
| Family / group swim (up to four people) | £11.00 |
Aqua classes
Visit our leisure system to book a class or activity online or to find out the latest timetable information. For more information about our aqua classes, see our Fitness classes page.
| Class | Price |
|---|
| Aqua classes (30 minutes) - non thrive card holder / thrive card holder / concession | £4.20 / £3.20 / £2.70 |
| Aqua classes (45 minutes) - non thrive card holder / thrive card holder / concession | £5.50 / £4.50 / £3.60 |
| Aqua classes (60 minutes) - non thrive card holder / thrive card holder / concession | £6.50 / £5.50 / £4.20 |
Memberships
If you have a leisure centre membership, we recently wrote to you to explain your membership options (in light of COVID-19). You will have either received this by email or post.
Your membership options include:
- Option 1: From 1 September 2020, we will automatically restart all direct debits payments. If you have already paid in full for any membership, the period of the closure will be added to the end of your contract.
- Option 2: We understand that not everyone is ready or able to come back so you have the option to freeze your membership for up to three months. If this is your preferred option please let us know by no later than 20 August by emailing us at: csleisuremanagement@durham.gov.uk - please include your full name, address and membership number. You can unfreeze your membership at any time.
If you make the come back and decide that it still isn't time for you to return you have the option to freeze your membership again if you inform us before the 20 August. We want you to come back when you feel it's safe to do so.
If you have not heard from us by 10 August, please email csleisuremanagement@durham.gov.uk, and include your name and membership number. Your membership number is on your Thrive card.
If you are interested in becoming a member, see our Leisure centre memberships or swim memberships page for more information.
Pool information and facilities
- large (25 metre) pool, depth 1m to 2m
- small pool, depth 0.5m - 1m
- male and female changing rooms (with hairdryers)
- mixed swimming changing rooms (with hairdryers)
- lockers - £1.00 refundable
- disabled changing room with hoist
- disabled access throughout the building
- baby change
- swim items for sales from high street brands Adidas and Speedo
Your family's safety - supervising children
We operate an admissions policy to ensure a safe environment for everyone. Normally our policy is that children under eight years must be accompanied by an adult. We have temporarily changed this so that children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. This is to help children from breaking social distancing rules. You must also supervise children taking into account their swimming ability and the water depth.
| Pool type | Children's age | Number of adults |
|---|
| Pools below 1m depth | 0-15 | One adult per two children |
All other pools
(Please note that this includes Freeman's Quay Leisure Centre's small pool due to its adjustable floor.) | 0-3 | One adult per child |
| 4-15 | One adult per two children |
The following will be refused entry to the pool (or possibly to the whole building at the discretion of the Operations Manager on duty);
- any child who is, or appears to be, under the age of 16 years who is, or appears to be, unaccompanied by a responsible person 16 years or over
- any child under the age of 16 years who is accompanied only by someone who is or appears to be under 16 years
- any child under the age of 16 years who is accompanied by someone deemed not to be a responsible person
- those who are, or are suspected to be, under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- persons barred from the pool/building for previous misdemeanours
- anyone deemed unfit to swim for health reasons
- anyone without an adequate and decent swim wear
- anyone who is abusive / violent on arrival
- any person at the discretion of the operations/duty officer or the aquatics coordinator
- anyone without a valid swim ticket or membership
Future Pool Closures
No planned closures at the moment.
