Categories > Education
The 5 Best Swimming Lessons in Manchester
How we picked
1. Swim Now
Services: Adults Lessons, Childs Lessons, Handling Water Phobia
Website: https://www.swimnow.co.uk/manchester-swimming-lessons/
Address: 303 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4LQ, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 468 2656
Operating Hours: Sunday to Saturday: 8:00 AM–8:00 PM
Google Reviews Score | 5/5 |
Total Reviews | 5/5 |
Score Consistency | 5/5 |
Qualifications | 5/5 |
Facilities | 4/5 |
Accessibility | 5/5 |
Customer Service | 5/5 |
Pros
- Good for students with anxiety
- Has a wide range of students
- Has competitive instructors
Cons
- Services are limited to swimming only
One of the things that usually prevents someone from trying or continuing with swimming lessons is anxiety. We are happy to share that Swim Now can help you with this.
We have spoken to some of their regular students, and they told us that the staff members were great at handling nervous or stressed-out students.
Instead of pressuring clients, they will patiently ease you into each lesson. We like that they do this for all of their students, regardless of age.
While on the topic of age groups, we also appreciate that they can cater to all types of students, from toddlers to adults. With this, we believe that they will be a great choice for those who want to take swimming lessons along with their little ones.
We also like that Swim Now has a wide range of students when it comes to skill level. While most of their clients are beginners, they also have highly-skilled instructors who can help guide more advanced swimmers.
This aspect did not come to us as a surprise as their Chief Executive Officer, Alistair has over 20 years of experience in the field. Along with him are other respectable instructors and their bios are available on their website.
The only downside we noted is that they only offer swimming lessons. If you are looking for a centre with more options, it would be best to check other swimming facilities in Manchester.
2. Manchester Aquatics Centre
Services: Swimming Lessons
Address: 2 Booth St E, Manchester M13 9SS, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 641 6310
Operating Hours: Sunday: 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Tuesday: 12:15 PM–1:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Friday: 8:30 PM–10:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Google Reviews Score | 3.9/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 3.3/5 |
Total Reviews | 3.6/5 |
Score Consistency | 4/5 |
Qualifications | 5/5 |
Facilities | 5/5 |
Accessibility | 4/5 |
Customer Service | 5/5 |
Pros
- Has commendable facilities
- Has a pool with a versatile setups
- Good for advanced swimmers
Cons
- Some facilities are unavailable due to renovations
- Has an age requirement of at least 16 years old to transact
One of the best things about Manchester Aquatics Centre is their facilities. They have swimming areas that can be used for intensive training.
On top of this, we appreciate that they are continuously trying to improve their services. On that note, some parts of their establishment are undergoing refurbishment, so this is something to consider when enrolling in swim lessons here.
But, with the ongoing improvements, students can expect even better facilities and equipment once the renovations are completed.
For now, they have a multi-purpose swimming pool with moveable floors and booms. We like that this area can be set up in different ways, depending on your specific needs.
As mentioned above, most of the people who train here are more advanced swimmers. In fact, this specific pool is home to the GB Para Swim Team.
Despite this, we also appreciate that they can cater to beginners. They can even assist in setting up the pool in such a way that it would be less intimidating to less-experienced swimmers.
As for their booking system, we like that all clients need to do is fill out an easy form on their website. You may also contact them through phone call or email and someone will assist you right away.
Just keep in mind that they only entertain clients that are at least 16 years old. Otherwise, you will be asked to transact with the help of a guardian.
3. Hough End Leisure Centre
Services: Gym Workout, Swimming, Fitness Classes, Swimming Lessons, Personal Training, Junior Gym
Website: https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/manchester/hough-end
Address: 480 Princess Rd, Manchester M20 1HD, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 641 6300
Operating Hours: Sunday: 7:00 AM–7:00 PM
Monday to Friday: 5:30 AM–10:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM–7:00 PM
Google Reviews Score | 4.1/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 3.5/5 |
Total Reviews | 5/5 |
Score Consistency | 3.8/5 |
Qualifications | 5/5 |
Facilities | 5/5 |
Accessibility | 5/5 |
Customer Service | 4/5 |
Pros
- Offers a wide range of services
- Good for families and friends
- Have commendable facilities
Cons
- Has inconsistent customer service
When it comes to the range of services, we give it to Hough End Leisure Centre. Aside from being a competitive swimming centre, they also have facilities for various sports activities.
For instance, they have an air-conditioned gym that can help customers achieve their personal fitness goals. We were also impressed that the facility is fully kitted out with equipment from Technogym — one of the leading designers of exercise equipment.
Aside from this, they also have a gym that is specially designed for children between the age of 11 to 15 years old. This is a great way to get kids to get started on fitness at an early age.
Furthermore, they also have fitness classes, sauna rooms, squash courts, and many other facilities. With all of these in consideration, we believe that this is a great place for friends or families who want to have a more active lifestyle.
When it comes to their swimming facilities, we are impressed with their six-lane swimming pool that is 25 metres long — a popular option for more advanced swimmers.
On the other hand, they also have a learning pool for beginners. We also like that they have instructors for those who want to learn how to swim casually up to those who intend to compete.
Unfortunately, their customer service is inconsistent as there are clients who mentioned to us that the staff were rude to them. On the other hand, some had a lovely experience.
4. Ivy Bank Swim School
Services: Swimming Lessons
Website: https://www.ivybankswim.co.uk/
Address: 31 Grosvenor St, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1ES, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 773 2629
Operating Hours: Sunday: 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Monday to Friday: 12:00 PM–7:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Google Reviews Score | 4.3/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 4.6/5 |
Total Reviews | 4.5/5 |
Score Consistency | 4/5 |
Qualifications | 5/5 |
Facilities | 5/5 |
Accessibility | 5/5 |
Customer Service | 4/5 |
Pros
- Established swimming lessons provider
- Has highly-trained instructors
- Has straightforward pricing
Cons
- Does not accept refunds
As for those who prefer an established swimming lessons provider, you may consider Ivy Bank Swim School. We were impressed that they have been operational since 1995!
Over the years of their practice, they were able to build a good relationship with their students. In our surveys, our respondents happily mentioned that the staff members here make swimming lessons both fun and productive.
We believe that this is because all of their instructors are qualified by the Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA). This means that each one underwent rigorous training to ensure that they can teach swimming well.
Additionally, there is also an option to book the pool for up to one hour. We think this is great for those who want to practise before the lessons or simply goof around after the classes.
Another thing we like about them is their straightforward pricing. For 2 people, booking the pool for 30 minutes costs £10 for two people, while booking for an hour costs £15.
If you ask us, this is a reasonable price, especially for parents who want their kids to have some fun in between their sessions.
The only caveat is that they do not accept refunds. Since all bookings are considered final, it would be best to ensure that you can commit before finalising a session.
5. Alistair Mills Fitness
Services: Personal Training, Swim Coaching, Swimfit, Muscle Building
Website: https://www.alistairmillsfitness.com/
Address: Hilton Hotel, 303 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4LQ, United Kingdom
Contact Details: 0161 468 2655
Operating Hours: Sunday to Saturday: 5:00 AM–7:00 PM
Google Reviews Score | 4.3/5 |
Total Reviews | 4.3/5 |
Score Consistency | 4/5 |
Qualifications | 5/5 |
Facilities | 5/5 |
Accessibility | 5/5 |
Customer Service | 4/5 |
Pros
- Offers personalised training sessions
- Caters to a wide range of students
- Accessible location
Cons
- Purchased sessions should be completed in six months
If there is a specific fitness goal that a customer wants to achieve through swimming, some of the best people who can help them will be from Alistair Mills Fitness. Here, they have an impressive team of personal trainers that will pay close attention to you.
One of the notable members of their team is Gerry McGrann. We think it’s great that he has over nine years in addressing musculoskeletal injuries.
With people like him on board, we are confident that this will also be a great place for students who have complicated health issues.
When it comes to accessibility, it would be hard to top this team as they are situated at the Hilton Hotel in Deansgate. As for the schedule, they are willing to work around your lifestyle whenever it’s possible — a plus for convenience in our books!
As for their swimming lessons, we like that they cater to a wide range of students.
Of course, they have beginners who sign up for their classes. However, the majority of their students are advanced swimmers who are training for triathlon events or technical improvement.
On top of this, they also have a Swimfit service which helps students who aim to improve stamina, lose weight, increase flexibility, or recover from an existing injury.
Just keep in mind that you would need to complete your sessions within six months of booking or else it would expire. With this aspect to consider, we suggest that you commit only when you are sure that you can see it through.