The bathing pools are Victorian era intertidal structures consisting of three seawater pools and a horseshoe shaped swimming area. The pools are filled by the sea twice a day at the higher tides, as the tides drop they provide a calm swimming area for the public to enjoy.
The pools are accessible year-round with no entrance fee. There is free on-street parking nearby, with both short- and long-term spaces. Facilities include changing rooms, toilets, free cold freshwater showers, hot showers (payment required), cafe and defibrillator.
Although the pools are man-made, they are subject to natural forces of the sea and weather. While this is part of what makes them so special, the public should be aware of the risks of swimming in sea pools, and always use caution and best judgement when entering the water. Please see the safety signs at the pool for more detailed information on staying safe when swimming.
Guernsey has some of the larges tidal range in the world, at times even the railings of the bathing pools are covered, creating unseen obstructions. The pools will start to cover at tides above an estimated 6m for the Ladies and Gents pools, and 7m for the Children's. This will vary depending on weather and climate conditions. Tide times can be found on www.tides.digimap.gg.
Cleaning schedule and scheduled pool closures
- The surface of the pools need to be cleaned of algae to prevent them becoming slippery. In the winter, the pools are cleaned once a month. This is increased to twice a month from April to October when the warmer temperatures increase algal growth. The table below shows the dates when the pools will be closed for cleaning. This is subject to change but will be updated accordingly. If the table doesn't display clearly on mobile, you can access this in the downloads section. Please report any problems to aclms@gov.gg
Ladies pool
Horseshoe pool
Gents
Children's
January
Monday 23rd
Monday 23rd
Tuesday 24th
Tuesday 24th
February
Monday 20th
Monday 20th
Tuesday 21st
Tuesday 21st
March
Monday 20th
Monday 20th
Tuesday 21st
Tuesday 21st
April
Monday 3rd
Monday 17th
Monday 3rd
Monday 17th
Tuesday 4th
Tuesday 18th
Tuesday 4th
Tuesday 18th
May
Tuesday 2nd
Wednesday 17th
Tuesday 2nd
Wednesday 17th
Wednesday 3rd
Thursday 18th
Wednesday 3rd
Thursday 18th
June
Monday 5th
Monday 19th
Monday 5th
Monday 19th
Tuesday 6th
Tuesday 20th
Tuesday 6th
Tuesday 20th
July
Monday 3rd
Monday 17th
Monday 3rd
Monday 17th
Tuesday 4th
Tuesday 18th
Tuesday 4th
Tuesday 18th
August
Tuesday 1st
Tuesday 16th
Thursday 31st
Tuesday 1st
Tuesday 16th
Thursday 31st
Wednesday 2nd
Wednesday 17th
Wednesday 2nd
Wednesday 17th
September
Wednesday 13th
Thursday 28th
Wednesday 13th
Thursday 28th
Friday 1st
Thursday 14th
Friday 29th
Friday 1st
Thursday 14th
Friday 29th
October
Thursday 12th
Monday 30th
Thursday 12th
Monday 30th
Friday 13th
Tuesday 31st
Friday 13th
Tuesday 31st
November
Wednesday 15th
Wednesday 15th
Thursday 16th
Thursday 16th
December
Thursday 14th
Thursday 14th
Friday 15th
Friday 15th
- On the following dates, the Ladies Pool will be partially closed for water polo:
- 8th and 22nd August, 6pm to 7.30pm
- 5th September, 6pm to 7.30pm
- 16th September, 11.30am to 6pm
Café
- The cafe at the bathing pools sell a selection of hot and cold food, drinks and snacks. In winter, there is a log fire to help you warm up after a cold swim. More information can be found at www.thebathingpools.com
Events
- If you would like to hold an event in the café, please contact 07781 451 472 or visit www.thebathingpools.com
- If you would like to hold an event in or around the pools, please contact aclms@gov.gg. The pools are for the public to enjoy, so generally we will not allow the entire space to be closed for private events. Events of more than 50 people will require public liability insurance.
Access
- Access to the Children's pool, Horseshoe pool and Gents pool is via step access.
- In 2022, a ramp was installed to the Ladies pools. Due to the nature of the pool environment, the ramp is steep in places.
- Surfaces of the pool surround is varied and can be uneven. It may be slippery when wet.
- Handrails are provided along most of the staircases.
- The pools are filled naturally by the sea, as such they are subject to variations in tidal conditions and temperature. Always use caution and best judgement when entering the water
History
- The bathing pools at La Vallette were originally built to compensate for the loss of swimming facilities caused by the expansion of St Peter Port harbour. The horseshoe pool was the first structure to be built in 1844, it compromises of a a circular stepped wall that is open to the sea to allow swimmers to access to the water. The ladies and gents pools were built in the 1870's, with the children's pools added 20 years later. Victor Hugo was known to swim in the pools during his exile on the island from 1865 - 1870, as did the artist Monet during his visit to the island in 1883.
