Department for Culture Media and Sport
Because lidos tend to have large volumes of swimmers during the summer months and different patterns of demand, we've allowed councils and operators to ask for them to be excluded from the scheme - but only where other appropriate facilties exist within a borough. Therefore, some councils have decided to exclude lidos whereas others have included them in the free swimming scheme. This is an initiative designed to promote swimming as a healthy activity, so leisure pools that contain facilities like flumes, but are not primarily for swimming, are also covered by the same exemption.