Unlike London with its plethora of Lidos to choose from, Manchester has Salford Quays and Sale Water Park as the only reliably safe open water swimming venues. Here you can find regular swimming sessions that provide the lifeguard-esque safety that you get from London’s Lidos.
Salford Quays is the home of USWIM and the birthplace of Jenny’s open-water swimming passion. USWIM was set up by David Quartermain 25 years ago because he wanted to provide swimmers with a safe outdoor space that allowed them to explore their capabilities. They have been at Salford Quays for the past 15 years, and long may that continue!
Residents and visiting swimmers can get their outdoor swimming hit every week, including in winter! Summer sessions are on Wednesday evenings from 5 - 7.30 pm and Saturday mornings from 8 - 11 am. Winter Polar sessions are on Saturday mornings.
Getting to Salford Quays
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Parking is very conveniently placed at The Lowry Shopping Centre. The multi-storey has lots of spaces available, and up to 2 hours will set you back £2.20. If you are there early enough for the Saturday sessions you can get a car park spot that overlooks Dock 9 that you are about to swim in.
The atmosphere, even in the car park, especially on a Saturday morning is one of community. With their boots open you can spot your fellow swimmers a mile away, zipping up their wetsuits, or blowing up their tow floats, ready and eager to get in. Friendly smiles and greetings are shared as friends meet up, to do their weekly swim. The walk from the car park to the registration gazebo at the quayside is less than 2 minutes.
Salford Quays also has a tram stop, so if you are staying in Manchester City Centre just pop on the Media City Tram to take you to its final destination. Once there, don’t worry, you will spot your fellow swimmers. Just follow them.
Facilities at Salford Quays
Toilets are available within the Lowry shopping centre, where the multi-storey car park is. It is advised to come ready to swim as there are limited changing facilities and baggage areas. During Covid, a lot of people started changing pre and post swim by their cars in the multi story. Privacy, is hard to come by, which was on Jenny’s mind when designing the Changing Tube. Public changing, especially in a public setting like Salford Quays, can be rather daunting. So instead of fighting with your changing robe or towel, for a quick change, choose to take a Changing Tube with you.
Once at the Quays, you need to sign in. This is just one of the many safety measures available to USWIM that allowed Jenny to feel comfortable exploring her new hobby all those years ago. You don’t have to make sure you are in a group to swim as a safety measure, because USWIM has got that covered for you. They are there to look after you. At the sign-in gazebo, this is where you can hire a wetsuit if required. Hire costs £10, plus a £20 deposit.
Membership is available for Dock 9 and their other venue, Boundary Water Park in Cheshire. Booking is required, but you can pay on the day (it's just a tad more if you haven’t pre-booked). Pay on the day is £10 for Adults, £5 for 7-15-year-olds and £2 for under 7s. Introductions to Cold Water Swims are available and they are a great way to ask key questions of David or any of his team, that can help squash any fears or apprehensions you may have.
Is Salford Quays water safe to swim in?
Quick answer: Yes!
The industrial heritage of Manchester is very strong. The symbol of the worker bee can be seen throughout the city, paying homage to the strong workforce that once walked the streets. The Manchester Ship Canal opened in 1894 and prospered to be one of Britain’s largest ports, with its peak being in the 1950s. When the canal closed in 1984, the land became rife for development, but there was a problem: the polluted water. Since the closure and isolation of natural water flow, work has been carried out to oxygenate the quay's deep water basin to reduce the stratification and anoxic waters (the water has no dissolved oxygen). Their work has been very successful. From a 100-year industrial waterway legacy of extremely poor water quality, Salford Quays now has Blue Flag certification and was rewarded by hosting the Commonwealth Triathlon in 2002. So rest at ease. Yes, you can swim in Salford Quays.
Other safety measures, include signing in and out of the water, along with a safety boat and kayaks out on the watercourse throughout the swimming session, swimmers are told, that if they are in trouble - float and put their hand up, and they will be rescued swiftly. All swimmers are required to have tow floats if swimming over 750m, and bright swim caps are needed before being allowed in the water.
You have choices when you get in the water. Whatever stage you are at in your open-water swimming journey, there is a course for you. Stay near the dock area, 250m, 500m, 750m or take all of Dock 9 in during your 1km circuit. The choice is yours!
After your swim
After your swim, why not have a walk around the docks to take in the sites. Media City is the Northern home of the BBC and just over the bridge is the impressive Imperial War Museum North. Alternatively, why not take in a show at The Lowry theatre, and if you are lucky, you could have a mooch around the Quayside Media City Maker Market.
