Dip into history at the UK's first geothermally-heated seawater pool

Following a dramatic transformation, Jubilee Pool — one of Europe's last remaining seawater lidos — is now a year-round tourist attraction and the UK's only geothermally-heated seawater pool. Swimmers can now bathe in balmy waters heated to a very pleasant 35 degrees Celsius (95°F) no matter the weather.

The iconic Jubilee Pool, a Grade-II listed lido in the West Cornish town of Penzance, has been carefully upgraded as an all-weather spa pool. The Art Deco pool is now heated with geothermal energy to allow visitors to bathe in waters of around 35°C in designated sections. It's the first-of-its-kind in the UK, essentially providing swimmers with a taste of traditional Icelandic bathing traditions to be enjoyed in all four seasons, come rain, hail or shine.

Jubilee Pool is the largest seawater lido in the UK and offers spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. Popular activities here include swimming lessons, paddleboarding, yoga, fitness training and water polo. Following its upgrade, the lido is now open daily 12 months of the year. London-based Scott Whitby Studio is overseeing the lido's upgrade with a new cafe/restaurant, and will design a range of thermal and spa facilities, as well as a large community hall. The architect firm says it hopes that the upgraded project will see Penzance become the spa town of Cornwall.

The historic pool was built in 1935 to commemorate the silver jubilee of King George V, when the town was a premier resort spot and remained a strong social hub of the community. However, in 2014 the lido was badly damaged during freak winter storms and was threatened with closure. The community and local government rallied around it to to restore the Jubilee Pool to its former glory and in July 2016, it was officially reopened by Prince Charles.

To heat the pool, warm water is extracted from a geothermal well deep underground using heat pumps and then distributed to the pool, while cooler water is injected back into the ground. Officials at Jubilee Pool say this particular method of heat extraction is an energy-efficient way to maintain warm temperatures.

The project was two years in the making and officially opened to the public on Friday, August 28. To arrange a visit, see here.

This article was first published on September 7, 2018 and updated on September 3, 2020.

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