Riverside Leisure Centre
WHERE
Norwich
What it’s like
Swimming lessons, family splash sessions and a monthly SEND swim at a pool that opens at 6am on weekdays.
This is a working pool rather than a splash park with slides, and the lessons are the backbone of it. Babies and toddlers up to five get their own lesson programme, school age kids get theirs, and if your child's already on a lesson programme there's free swimming in selected sessions thrown in, which softens the ongoing cost a bit.
Family Fun sessions are the ones to book in around if you just want a splash together rather than formal lessons. There's also a SEND Family Fun session on the last Saturday of every month, which is a genuinely useful thing to have as a fixed date rather than a one-off.
Once your kids hit 11 there's more on offer: a supervised junior gym for 11 to 15 year olds and group workout classes for children and teens, so the centre doesn't just drop them once they're too old for the toddler sessions. Hours are generous too, 6am to 10pm most weekdays, though weekends are shorter at 7am to 7pm.
The building's wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet, and there's parking on site. Dogs aren't really part of the day here, it's assistance dogs only, so leave the family dog at home.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Babies through teens, with lessons split by age and a gym for over-11s
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs only
- Free swimming pops up in selected sessions if your child's already on the lesson programme
- The SEND Family Fun session is fixed to the last Saturday of the month
- Weekday mornings open early at 6am if you want to beat the crowds
- Junior gym and workout classes give 11 to 15 year olds something once they're past the toddler sessions
Plan your visit
What can my child actually do there?
Swimming lessons for under-fives and school age children, Family Fun swim sessions, and if they're 11 to 15 there's a supervised junior gym and workout classes too.
Is there anything for children with SEND?
There's a SEND Family Fun session on the last Saturday of every month, separate from the regular family swims.
Do we need to book?
Lessons run as an ongoing programme, so that's one to sort ahead rather than turn up for on the day.
What are the opening hours?
6am to 10pm Monday to Thursday, 6am to 9pm on Friday, and 7am to 7pm at weekends.
Can we bring the dog?
Only assistance dogs are allowed in, so it's not a spot for the family dog.
Is it accessible?
Yes, there's an accessible toilet and the building's wheelchair accessible, plus parking on site.
Featured in 1 Huddlepin list
See all Splash Parks & Paddling Pools in Norwich · Things to do in Norwich
MAKE A DAY OF IT
