The NEW Swimming Pool at York Community Stadium – Better York Leisure Centre
We went along to the brand new swimming pool, toddler splash pool and leisure centre at the York Community Stadium – The Better York Leisure Centre.
They have such brilliant facilities here – we’re so excited for it to fully open as it will include an amazing clip & climb centre (the eldest mini mumbler can’t WAIT for that to open) and also a cafe, library and more classes and sports facilities.
For now we’re just really pleased that the swimming pool can be open and the kids can burn off their energy while having loads of fun. Here are some details – LOADS of you asked questions in the York Mumbler Facebook Page so I’ve done my best to answer all of these below too in the Q&A section.
Booking & getting there
At the moment it is pre-book only – you can do this via the Better App. Swimming places are released 5 days in advance (7 days for members)
Today, We arrived and got parked straight outside – you just drive as if you’re going to Paul Stride or Aldi on Kathryn Avenue and you’ll see the entrance just beyond.
You need to wear a mask on entry to the building – it was VERY spacious in the foyer with lots of hand sanitiser and room to space out very safely. They have staggered start times so that there should never be much of a queue or many people in the changing room at the same time.
Changing Rooms
Obviously this facility was built with much bigger numbers of people in mind so it felt very spacious and there were no problems at all accessing the lockers, changing rooms (including 4 family change rooms) and showers.
They encourage you to come as ‘swim ready’ as possible so we had our cozzies on under our clothes then we got a quick shower before getting in as well as after we had swam. There are open showers but also some private ones available. The changing area is communal (male and female) but it’s all private changing rooms – there must have been about 50 in total (as well as the 5 family ones I saw) As numbers are so restricted in there, you’ll never struggle for a changing room or private shower at the moment.
There were large benches in the family changing rooms – plenty of hangers for your towels, clothes and wet cozzies and a baby / toddler chair thing where you can strap your mini mumbler in while you get dry and changed. There were baby change in both the mens and the women’s loos too.
The Pools
You can book either in the main pool or in the splash pad & learner pool.
The main pool 25m and is for lane swimming, general swimming, school and club hire. More suited to confident swimmers.
The Learner Pool is an ideal pool to learn and gain water confidence with a max depth of 0.9m. The Splash Pad is shallow water paddling pool with interactive water play area with a slide for children under 8 years old. Perfect for water babies and water confidence building.
The learner pool and splash pad tend to be booked up more quickly at the moment – if you book here and there is capacity in the big pool then they may let you go in there too – but this is very dependent on numbers and up to the discretion of the lifeguard. If you book in the main pool you’re unlikely to be able to go into the learner pool and splash pool due to number restrictions.
Check out our video on youtube to give you more of a feel for it (you can also see this on my instagram reels HERE
Q&A – Your Questions and My Answers
I’ve done my best to answer all of your questions here… of course things are changing all the time at the moment so please do check with the leisure centre directly if the answer is essential for you. In the meanwhile – I hope this helps you know what to expect!
Can I just turn up?
No you must book on the app or online before coming.
Where is it?
It’s at the new Community Stadium at Monks Cross / Vangarde- you can access the Better York Leisure Centre just down Kathryn Avenue – head to Paul Stride / Aldi and you’ll see it’s there.
Is there Family Changing?
Yes there are 5 family changing rooms which are a really good size – there are also about 50 normal changing rooms where I could fit in with my 2 daughters without an issue.
How much is it?
It is £5.35 per adult and £3.75 for over 3s
What is the Hygiene like?
It was immaculate today – there are very few people at one time and it’s all shiny and new so felt very clean. Also hand sanitiser as you enter and masks worn on entry and until you go to the pool.
Are there separate changing rooms for men and women?
No it’s one big room but it’s all private changing rooms within it. There are some mixed showers and also some private ones.
What is the temperature like?
We found it fine – apparently it was colder when it first opened but they’ve increased the temperature. The girls didn’t complain once when they were in there. They were cold when they got out (they always are) but we went straight into the shower which was nice and warm and then straight into a towel so were fine. Just make sure you have enough towels to dry your kids and also keep them warm – but we found it fine.
The Baby pool is kept at 31 degrees.
Is it suitable for toddlers?
Yes definitely – the plash pad is ideal for toddlers as it’s very shallow and lots of fun. The learners pool is also pretty shallow (0.9m)
Do you have to arrive ‘swim ready’
It was advised on the website to arrive swim ready – they are just trying to reduce the number of contacts. We had our swimming costumes under our clothes so we could get in pretty quickly after a quick rinse down in the shower. After we had a proper shower and got changed in the private changing rooms. Due to the restrictions on numbers it just felt very quiet and spacious!
Is there anywhere to change a baby into a swim nappy before swimming?
Yes absolutely – there are baby change facilities in both the mens and women’s toilets (within the changing rooms) and also benches in the family changing rooms which would be ok I expect.
Are there any slides?
No only a very small one in the splash pad which is suitable for toddlers and younger children. Children under 8 can go in that area.
How do you book?
Book via the ‘Better uk’ App
Are there lockers in the changing room?
Yes there are – take £1 for them (you get this back) they’re not very big so maybe use 2 – we did this.
Are older siblings allowed to go in the splash pad area?
If you are supervising that would be fine – will depend on safety and how busy it is.
Is the Cafe Open?
Unfortunately not due to covid it’s not open (at time of writing we were in Tier 3) There are vending machines though.
What is the adult to child ratio?
2 Children per adult
Is there somewhere to leave my pram?
The reception is huge so you could leave it there at your own risk.
How many people can book at once?
On the hour every hour there is a booking for 6 available and then 20past and 40past 4 spaces
Can you move between the bigger and smaller pools?
Officially you can’t move between the areas but they have told me that as long as there was space, and at the discretion of the lifeguards, you would be able to go in the bigger pool. The learner pool and splash zone are more restricted on numbers so youd be unlikely to be able to go in there if you’ve booked just the main pool.
You can move between the splash pad and the learner pool at any time in your session.
Do I need to be a member to book?
You don’t need to be a member to book swimming. Slots get released to members 2 days before the general public though.
Does the age restriction in the splash pool apply to children with additional needs?
If they have extra needs they would let them use the splash pad.
We went along to the brand new swimming pool, toddler splash pool and leisure centre at the York Community Stadium – The Better York Leisure Centre.
