Pool Bridge Farm - Wild Swimming & Wellbeing
BEST FOR
Ages 0+
WHERE
York
What it’s like
Open-water swimming, paddleboarding and sauna dips in a lake setting, with sessions booked online for every visitor, children included.
You come here to get in the water, properly. Q Lake is the main event, with paddleboarding and kayaking sessions if you bring your own board or kayak, and a sauna set up for the full hot-then-cold plunge routine. Sessions run 55 minutes, which feels tight until you remember cold water swimming is not really a lounge-about activity.
Children can swim too, but only once the water is consistently 12 degrees, so this is very much a summer and warm-shoulder-season thing for families rather than a year-round toddler outing. When it's on, kids go in with a parent or guardian, and the ratio rules are strict, one adult to three children, or one-to-one if anyone can't swim. Under 11s are strongly pushed towards life jackets and anyone under 18 needs one for paddleboarding or kayaking, which is a sensible faff rather than an annoying one.
Everybody needs a ticket booked in advance, including non-swimmers and carers, and there is no turning up to just have a look. That's a proper commitment for a family day out, but it does mean the place stays calm rather than crowded. Bring your own padlock for the lockers or pay £3.50 on the day, and don't expect to buy alcohol or bring music, this is a quiet nature reserve setup, not a lakeside party.
The café does homemade food and wood-fired pizzas, though the menu simplifies in summer and afternoon service after 3pm on Wednesday to Sunday is drinks and cakes only. Parking is usually included in your ticket and is weather-dependent, so follow the on-site signs rather than assuming a fixed spot.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Confident swimmers and families with older kids once water hits 12°C
- Last entry
- 7:45pm
- Booking
- Online booking in advance mandatory
- Parking
- Included with most tickets. Weather-dependent on-site parking, follow signs
- Food
- On-site café with homemade food, locally sourced pies and wood-fired pizzas
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs only, on lead, not in water
- Lockers need a padlock, bring your own or buy one for £3.50 on site
- No alcohol, smoking or music anywhere on the grounds
- Life jackets are strongly recommended for under 11s and required for under 18s paddleboarding or kayaking
- Last entry is 7:45pm, with the site open 8am to 8pm daily
- Everyone on site needs an up-to-date waiver as well as a ticket
Plan your visit
Do we need to book, or can we just turn up?
Booking is mandatory for everyone, including children and non-swimmers, and there are no gate sales. If a slot shows as unavailable online, it has sold out.
Can young children swim here?
Yes, once the water is consistently 12 degrees, usually in the warmer months, and always with a parent or guardian. The adult to child ratio is 1:3, or 1:1 if a child can't swim.
How long does a session last?
Sessions are 55 minutes, so it moves quickly once you're in.
Can we hire a paddleboard or kayak there?
You need to bring your own board or kayak, and your own PFD if you're under 18 and paddling.
What's the food situation?
There's an on-site café doing homemade food, locally sourced pies and wood-fired pizzas. The menu is more limited in summer, and after 3pm from Wednesday to Sunday it's drinks and cakes only.
Is parking included?
Parking comes with most tickets and is weather-dependent on site, so you follow the signs on arrival rather than book a fixed space.
Can we bring the dog?
Only registered assistance dogs, kept on a lead and not allowed in the water. It's a dog-free site otherwise.
What if we need to cancel or change our booking?
Tickets are non-refundable, but you can move your date or time yourself online as long as it's more than 5 days before your booking.
Do you offer any discounts?
There's an NHS staff discount on swimming tickets and monthly passes, applied by buying an NHS ticket and bringing ID. It doesn't apply to sauna bookings.
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