Review Highlights
“The changing facilities do the job and provide small and big lockers - so remember to bring a 50p coin.” in 5 reviews
“New management so theres a little getting use to.” in 2 reviews
“The centre offers more than a pool, there is also a fitness centre.” in 2 reviews
Location & Hours
Amenities and More
Recommended Reviews
Overall rating
17 reviews
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
- Melania P.London, United Kingdom1022027114 Dec 2008
I love to swim and I love going to Highbury Pool and Fitness Centre. When you are walking to the centre there are so many trees and overgrowth it feels like you are trying to find shelter in a jungle. As you walk along the path you can barely see the building and then the entrance pops almost out of nowhere. The centre offers more than a pool, there is also a fitness centre. This is a full service facility and if you don't belong to a gym it's not a bad place to join.
I go the Highbury Pool strictly to swim. They do have adult lap times if you want to avoid screaming kids. They also have water aerobics which is great for people with knee problems. Since I only use the pool a few times a month for swimming I pay the standard £3.70 fee. If I lived a bit closer I would problem go ahead and join, especially since a month membership with pool access is about £42.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Samir S.London, United Kingdom15821039624 Apr 2016Updated review
I use this place to swim as it the nearest one to me and ultimately run by Islington Council. Located just behind the old Highbury and Islington Station entrance and next to Highbury Fields, there is a gym room sauna and two pools, one full size and another toddlers paddling pool. There is also a small gym area with machines though I only really come here to pound some laps!
They always have a lane swimming area open and are open at 6.30am. I would strongly advise you get there at a time where are three swimming lanes open as things can get crowded there. A nice touch is that they provide multiple floats free of charge by the pool so you can just train your arms or legs if you so wish.
In terms of swimming the facilities are very basic, a little uninspiring and with a refurbishment long overdue. The previous £250 swim only membership has now gone replaced along with transfer of management to 'Better' with a simpler but much more expensive all you can eat membership costing about £500 if paid a year ahead, student membership is just over £300 and pensioners/disabled/benefits a little less. If you choose to pay monthly it's about 20% more. As a swim costs £5 and you only want to swim it makes a full membership difficult to justify.
You also have access to the facilities in the 'Better' sites including the Olympic park albeit with a small premium. Frankly the experience is a little better in Archway pool where the hours for lane swimming are very restricted. Generally this is a good place for the amount you pay, but only if you use all the facilities. The convenience factor both in terms of the experience earn it a star, sadly the decreased membership option also loses it a star. I was able to get a student membership this year but next I don't think it will be worth it.
So remember your flip flops and speedos and get swimming :)Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 031 Jul 2014Previous reviewI use this place to swim as it the nearest one to me and ultimately run by Islington Council. Located just behind the old Highbury and Islington Station entrance and next to Highbury Fields, there is a gym room sauna and two pools, one full size and another toddlers paddling pool.
They always have a lane swimming area open and are open at 6.30am. I would strongly advise you get there at a time where are three swimming lanes open as things can get crowded there. A nice touch is that they provide multiple floats free of charge by the pool so you can just train your arms or legs if you so wish.
In terms of swimming the facilities are very basic, a little uninspiring and with a refurbishment long overdue. That said, you do get a lot for your money. A £250 annual membership means all you can eat swimming and sauna with early access to booking courts and walls at the nearby Sobel Centre. There is no sign up fee and you can cancel whenever you wish.
You also have access to the sister sites in Islington. Frankly the experience is a little better in Archway pool but the hours are very restricted. Generally this is a good place for the amount you pay. That along with the convenience factor both in terms of the location and service just earn it the extra star.
So remember your flip flops and speedos and get swimming :) - Kirsty H.London, United Kingdom53769424 Apr 2016
This is now my local pool and I've been going here for a few weeks now. I believe the pool is 25m long and 2m deep at one end. They also have a square kiddies pool to kids to play in. The big pool is usually divided into 5 lane; lessons, slow, medium, fast and play.
The changing facilities do the job and provide small and big lockers - so remember to bring a 50p coin. If you forget, the staff are happy to give you change.
The pool gets very busy very quickly so do try to take advantage of the late swimming when all of the kids have gone home for tea. Make sure to check their timetable online also.
An adult swim is £5. Go on, swim and enjoy!Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Joy L.New York, United States19822827510 Sept 2014
Perfectly located in Highbury Fields and being so close to Highbury and Islington station, Highbury Pool and Fitness is one of the best gyms to go to in the area if you want to work out, take a class, swim, or relax in the sauna & steam. I like to do all those things so I don't go anywhere else.
They have a lot of equipment and I especially like that they have the old-school step-machine, which not many gyms actually have. Their proper-sized pool is great when it's not so busy, just like their classes. I've tried a few and Michelle is definitely the best instructor, as she's really motivating and passionate. The staff are chill and friendly, nothing too pretentious or showy like other gyms. People who come here are the ones who actually sweat.
I would give this place five stars if it weren't for their changing rooms, which are not very clean and gets messy with the people who swim, so do bring flip-flops because it does get wet everywhere. Do remember to bring 50p with you for the lockers, and that their sauna & steam is not open to all everyday.Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Qype User (confid…)London, United Kingdom0418 Oct 2012
Not quite Virgin standard, but almost there. Obviously it is not a luxurious, but the equipment is very new and the gym completely refurbished (last year.)
Very well priced for a gym and you don't have to buy a membership. If, like me, your gym days are sporidic this is ideal. They well obviously try to sell you a membership, but they are no where near as bad as places like fitness first (which is comparable with Highbury Pool Gym) and of course this gym has a pool.
www.aquaterra.org/ highbury - pool -and-fitness-centreHelpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Amanda F.London, United Kingdom971509221 Jan 2014
Highbury Pool & Fitness Centre is extremely close to my flat, and thus, it's where I choose to get my swim on.
I love that I can pay a drop-in fee for the pool without paying the expensive membership for the whole fitness centre (although, admittedly, it's a bit pricey even for a drop-in). My experience with the actual facilities have been a mixed bag - I've had the pool totally to myself, and I've had the pool be extremely crowded and frustrating to use...and I never go at peak times. The changing rooms could do with a bit more of a frequent cleaning schedule.
I've never used the gym or the fitness class studio, but they look nice enough - definitely some recent refurbishments.
All in all, it's fine for what I need, but I can see why people can get frustrated with this place - it's not *that* cheap versus a fancier place, and it's nowhere near the quality of a Fitness First or Virgin Active. I just use it because it's the closest pool to my flat and it's decent enough.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Qype User (absint…)London, United Kingdom81264586 Sept 2011
This is a nice medium-sized pool with pleasantly warm water and a sauna and gym on site that can be used without membership. The pool does get quite over-crowded at times, which can be annoying, but I like the pool enough to keep going along when I can. It's good to have the sauna options on cold days, and since it's a subsidised fitness centre, use of both sauna and steam room works out as a relatively inexpensive treat.
Maybe they should look into re-scheduling some of their classes and kids' sessions to maximise space for us 'freestyle' swimmers? It feels like they could do better with the timetabling, but possibly they are just running at capacity.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Qype User (marina…)London, United Kingdom14663117 Jun 2008
There are two swimming pools, one for adults and one for children.
There is also a gym center but you don't need to enroll to the gym to go swimming.
If you are a regular swimmer it's better to take the izz card as you'll pay less than if you don't come often. The entry costs £3.70.They are doing also family price.
They've got lockers at 50p or £1 but it's refundable.
It's better to ask for the schedule as during peak hours, there are separating the swimming-pool into 2 or 3 lanes for the visitors and the rest is for different courses like aqua aerobics, swimming lessons, personal training.
There also welcome disabled people.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Qype User (kitka…)London, United Kingdom0121 Nov 2007
For sure the cheapest swimming pool/sauna you will find in Islington. The pool is nice, relatively big and also relatively warm. Since they have quite a few school classes in for swimming lessons, the changing rooms tend to get quite dirty at times. Try to come in around lunch time, when it's nice and quiet but avoid early evenings and weekends when the pool is packed with swimmers.
They have saunas, too. Again, nothing special, but relaxing nevertheless.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - James F.London, United Kingdom046 May 2014
Livid! Make sure not to visit on Sexist Tuesdays! The nerve of the staff to tell me that I'm not allowed to use any of the facilities on account of my sex -- this shit should be as illegal as only providing a women's bathroom. Also, make sure you schedule your diary around Whites-Only Wednesdays and Wheelchair-Free Fridays!
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