Manchester Aquatics Centre

It’s January so I’ve jumped on the «New Year New Me» bandwagon. As well as giving up drinking I’ve decided to start back swimming and as I’m not committed enough (ok, yes, I’ve admitted it!) to pay for a gym membership, I’ve come back to the Aquatics Centre.
Over the last 7, nearly 8, years that I’ve lived in Manchester I have always come here to swim. There is a reason for that — it is a great place to swim. Not perfect but where else in the city centre can you use a ²³⁄₂₅ or 50 metre pool for £3.10 a go.
Despite my laziness, I am actually quite a good swimmer when I put my mind to it. I think it’s because my star sign is Cancer, which is a water sign. Because of that, on the rare occasions I have used gym pools, I’ve felt they haven’t been long enough to really get into it.
The timetable has changed a little over the years but I have been twice in the past week: Saturday lunchtime for the lane swimming in the 25m and today (Wednesday) for the adult swim in the 23m pool. I much prefer the lane swim in the 25m pool because a) there are more lanes so each one is less crowded, especially the medium and fast lanes and b) the water is 2m so easier to swim in. Now if you’re not so strong at swimming or you just want to go for a lazy swim then the adult swim on a Wednesday is probably your best bet.
Sometimes in the holidays they open up the diving pool for lane swimming. They also sometimes open the 50m pool downstairs — usually early mornings or late evenings. It used to be open until 1pm on a Sunday but I don’t think that is the case any more.
The price is good — £3.10 per visit for swim only. I’ve never used the gym or any other facilities so can’t comment on cost/​quality. There is a £19.99 swim only membership, which if you go more than 6 times every month works out really cost effective. If I am still on this fitness thing by March then I may think about committing — which is a very scary thought!
I’d definitely recommend coming here to swim to get fit. Gyms aren’t everyone’s thing and if you don’t want to pay 30-​odd-​quid to use a gym with a decent pool, then this really is the best bet. It’s also easy to get to being on Oxford Road. I personally walk — I count it as my warm up and warm down — but it’s on the bus route and there is parking (although no idea how to get to the parking).

Have been coming here to the gym on and off for a while now
The gym is small and compact but as everything you need in it for a workout
there is always an instructor avaliable if you need any help on how to use the machines
there is air conditioning on all the time so you dont get to hot and at £5.20 pay as you go you can stay as long as you like.
downstairs there are a couple of pools and you can start at a beginners course
or you can go in the advanced side ‚
they also do a ladies only night for those who wish to just be with the girls.
next door to the gym is a keep fit class and down stairs is a café and drinks machines
staff are always friendly and helpful.

Manchester Aquatics Centre has a 50m pool, which is obviously amazing. However, under the current timetable you can only swim in it at quite restricted times — Thursdays and Fridays after 2030, Tuesday morning and on Sundays, unless you can get there before 0830 (which I obviously will never achieve). Lane swimming is in general quite limited after work unless you’re prepared to wait until 2000 onwards. If you’re actually properly training this makes it quite difficult in terms of when to eat.
Anyway. Other issues:
(1) Reception is a disaster. Every time I go in there is either something they don’t have or something going wrong. They also never seem to have enough staff.
(2) Layout. More signs are needed, or more explanation when you sign up. Maybe there is a map or guide available, if so this should be made more obvious/​given to you. Top tip! To get into the health suite after swimming without walking dripping through reception you need to go down to the far end of the pool away from the changing room entrance and find the code written on your arm band to open the door.
(3) Changing rooms. Not very many showers considering how many people are around. Also everything is communal which I personally find a bit stressful.
(4) Sauna/​steam rooms are definitely not the place to come if you want to mentally relax, as they are probably going to be crammed full of people talking about how unbelievable it is that Sunderland beat Man U (oh and by the way Man U fans, it’s not some kind of special tragedy that you lost some matches. Welcome to the real world). However they are certainly help your body relax after a swim and it’s good value to have the health suite included in your swim membership.
(5) Music. Why? It’s so annoying. I mean, I can just about cope with it in the changing rooms (except for that one time when some kids were playing additional music on their phones like it was some kind of NIGHTMARE) but it would be nice at least in the health suite to only have the sweet strains of grown men imagining that Man U will somehow still win the Champions League.
Stay tuned for the next instalment of grumpy woman at the pool: who shouldn’t be in the medium speed lane.*
*Preview: people who PUT THEIR FEET ON THE FLOOR HALFWAY THROUGH A LENGTH. people WHO FLOAT HALF THE LENGTH. Argh, swim rage.

I am pretty much here every day of the week at the moment. Staff are friendly, prices are very good, lots of changing rooms and lockers. I go to the pool to swim, not to hang around gossiping and blocking up the edges of the pool, so for this reason I find it’s usually better to go when the pool is split in two (lanes or one side and casual on the other) although sometimes people still like to hang around on the lane side which drives me crazy! It is nice to use the 50m pool when it’s not so busy. Only downside really is they only have poolside showers.

This is my favorite place in Manchester, I have been going here almost everyday since I moved to Manchester 2 years ago. The only thing I care about a swimming pool facility is the pool itself, and this pool is a great 50 meter pool. It does get crowded sometimes but I got used to it. The staff is very friendly and relaxed and you will not have a problem with anyone working there. It is a good place to workout and make friends since there are many regulars. If you see a chubby guy in the fast lane wearing a red swim cap, come say hi.

Swimming is one thing but swimming in an Olympic size pool is totally a different league all together! Doesn’t matter if you are an ace swimmer or just a person who enjoys water like me you ought to love Aquatics Centre!
The deep blue water, vibrant atmosphere inside and a Jacuzzi what else do you want to spend a relaxed evening? And the most important thing is all for just 2 pounds, yes you heard that right, that is all you need to spend for one swim! You can also become a member here if you are a regular swimmer and the health conscious type (I am not clearly: p). The changing rooms are clean and the showers always have hot water (I have been to some pools where the showers are freezing cold) and they have hair dryers (20p — come on that is nothing). There is also a nice little health café inside if you want some snacks or drink after a good, refreshing swim!
I have an embarrassing incident here which I need to share — So I am one of those sloppy swimmers who splash a lot of water while swimming, so one of the days when I was swimming one of the staff came around and asked me to politely move to the kids pool (booohooo to him but guess what the kids pool was actually better: D). Ok, now you can laugh at me all you want!
Verdict: Best swimming pool in Manchester — Period!

Huge swimming pool. So far the best one I’ve ever tried. You have a lot of space and it is quite cheap for students.

Great gym and great extra facilities of course including the large Olympic sized swimming pool and smaller pool. Swimming events are usually held here and its usually quite a busy place but easily accessible via bus with a bus stop right outside it from the centre. Gym membership prices are very competitive for everyone and not just for students unlike other gyms.
Many varieties of sporting classes are also available here in the number of halls along with the chance to sometimes watch the GB team and other national teams training or competing in events.

This is apparently the best in town if you’re a swimmer and need space; I also noticed there’s a snorkelling club. If you want to reach them by phone, use 0161 275 9450 and press the # key. The email address is:
The weight room is popular, so come at not-​so-​busy times if you can manage it. Parking is £1 for two hours in the multi-​storey parking.
— As of January 2012, non-​student prices were as follows: gym & swim 12 months £250 advance, or £30 monthly no contract.
— If all you want is the pool, the Jan 2012 H2O package was listed at an annual fee of £199 advance, or £19.99 monthly no contract.
–You can try for free if you book an induction appt to use the machines (call at least 2 days ahead if you want to come in for that.)
— When I checked in February, there were judo classes offered on Sundays from 11am-​1pm for £4 per session (not included with memberships.)
Pros:
— the friendliest staff I’ve ever encountered at a gym
— wi-​fi
— very clean
— layout of machines is such that you don’t have to worry about banging into people in front or behind you
— machines are kept in good working order
— spacious changing rooms
Cons:
— if you don’t use the pool often or at all, then it’s a bit expensive compared to other gyms in Manchester

Been here about a dozen times so far, and have enjoyed every single stop. SO happy I bought a membership. There are lots of gyms around if you’re looking, but this is the only one that offers an array of pools (from what I found, at least). I like that the lanes are designated for direction and speed, so no fear of running into the random person coming at you.
Their weight room is relatively small, but stocked with what you’d need. The athletic centre has plenty of running machines, as well as some weightlifting machines. Overall, equipped with what you’d need to have a typical gym workout with the added benefit of the pool (which, who are we kidding, is the main purpose of this place).
I’d just suggest buying a pair of goggles. Every time I swim without them, my eyes are cloudy and bright red by the time I’m done. Can’t say they don’t keep their water clean, but damn that’s a lot of chlorine.

Sometimes you desperately need a short sharp shock of smushed fruit after your swim. Restorative Vitamin C and lovely stuff. I kind of didn’t want to walk all the way over to Amber Café on my way to Petersfield, and I’d noticed the little café at the Aquatics Centre a few times. It seemed to offer way more healthy treats than the archetypal vending machines at the South Manchester leisure centres (hey, they have those too. Hello Nice ‘n’ Spicy Nik-​Naks!), and there was proper coffee too, so I sauntered up to the counter all exhausted with my hair all soggy (I refuse on principle to use my 20ps for hairdryers that wouldn’t make a jot of difference to my multilayered thick hair) and asked about their smoothies.
They could indeed do them to take away, but they only had about three options available on the generous list which didn’t bother me in the slightest. I went for… come on, how could I resist the name… THE IMMUNISER. It sounds like some kind of *machine*! It incorporated strawberry, kiwi and pineapple, three of my absolute favourite fruits, and it was awesome. Just the right portion and only a little over £2, how can one complain?
I’ll definitely be using this as regularly as my morning fruit shoot before breakfast. Thanks, Manchester Sports and Leisure! Nom.

Schwing!
I feel so lucky to have Manchester Aquatics Centre on my doorstep. As an ex-​competitive swimmer, I’ve swam in a whole load of pools up and down the UK, and let me tell you: MAC is one of the good ones. There are only a handful of 50m Olympic size pools across the country, and the one at MAC is so good it’s been used for the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships, plus it regularly hosts the British Swimming Championships, as well as being the home of British Water Polo.
Let’s talk facilities. The main pool area has a kids play pool with a jacuzzi, though this only seems to be open at certain hours of the day, could be worth checking first. Then the 50m pool, which during the day is normally split into two pools by a boom, one being 25m for lane swimming, and one being 23m for leisure swimming. There is also a ‘diving pit’ of 25m length, where diving lessons, water polo training and aqua aerobics take place. In the basement is a 2^nd 50m pool for training purposes, it is rarely open to the public.
All the pools are ‘deck level’ which means the surface of the water is at the same level as the swimming pool walls, which reduces the amount of waves and makes the water a lot smoother to swim in. The pools really are fantastic, and there is a substantial selection of public sessions available to make the most of them, available from a concessionary rate of £1.90, or £3.10 for all you other people!
Upstairs are the fitness suite and studio, where classes take place. I’ve never been in the fitness suite myself, but I’m told its facilities are excellent. You can even overlook the swimming pools whilst you do your stretches at the end of the workout. Ever heard of Les Mills fitness classes? They seem to be the new fad, and a lot of them are available at MAC, from Body Pump, to Body Combat and Body Attack, there will more than likely be a fitness programme here to meet your needs.
Behind the reception area is also a café. This is really helpful if like me, swimming makes you ravenous and the vending machines just can’t fill the gaping hole in your stomach. It’s also handy if you’re early for meeting someone and instead of loitering awkwardly around reception you have somewhere to actually sit. Some of the tables and chairs are actually on poolside, which I imagine are popular for parents when swimming lessons are on. But beware, poolsides are hot and sweaty places, so unless you can brave it, I’d stay inside if I were you.
I come here about three or four times a week, and I never take for granted how lucky I am to be able to use such world class facilities.

One day all leisure centres will be like Manchester Aquatics Centre. At least, I live in hope that they’ll be anyway. It’s certainly vastly different to the swimming baths of my childhood, being clean, well equipped and absolutely huge. Plus its changing rooms are less likely to give me a nasty case of athlete’s foot.
The highlight of this place is its outstanding swimming pool. Purpose built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, it comprises both 50m and 25m length lane swimming and free swimming areas. It also plays host to a wide range of aquatics classes and keep fit sessions for those of all ages and abilities, and is great for students and office workers alike.
It does help to be a student if you want to use the Aquatics Centre though — you get a wider range of discounts and deals for one thing. However, despite this, it’s still possibly one of the cheapest places in the City Centre to go to for a good work out. Best of all, it’s open until late, meaning it’s a great place to go for a twilight swim after a hard day’s graft.

It is a legacy to the success of the 2002 Commonwealth games. It is the only complex in the UK with two 50-​metre pools as well as separate diving and leisure pools. Housing world-​class swimming events and galas, you may also find the regional British Paralympics Swimming squad lurking around also.
Good enough for the world classes, good enough for you? The smell of chlorine lingering on outside reminds of the huge swimming complex inside but it also offers a mix of other leisure activities for us normal lot. A fitness suite with over 70 pieces of equipment, free Swimming for 16 & under and over 60’s, swimming sessions, swimlife swimming lessons and a variety of fitness classes; your «kick into shape» or «sports is fun yeah» inner self can be realised at the Aquatics.
Even though it’s so big, the pool can get busy, so maybe remember to go at quieter times to avoid being swamped in the pool. The student gym memberships are pretty extortionate compared to my city centre gym but for the top facilities of the Aquatics Centre, perhaps it is more suited to those with high sporting tastes (not so much me).

The Aquatics Centre is one of my favourite, and least favourite places in Manchester. Going in, it is almost always my least favourite, as the very idea of exercising makes me feel nauseous, but — leaving after an hour or longer in the gym, then the entire building could not look more rosy!
For those living and working in the city centre, there is no where better for fitness and sports than the Aquatics centre. Built for the Manchester Commonwealth Games, it is proud host to an international standard swimming pool, complete with diving facilities, a gym, dance and fitness studios, and a hard-​core ‘Strength Space’. I tend to spend all of my time in the gym, which, although it isn’t the biggest gym in the city, is one of the best equipped. It is a modern building, with air conditioning throughout, so it is a comfortable place to exercise in, with the exception of the pool area which is very humid, and makes you sweat like a dog if you are doing non-​water related activities (the gym equipment spills out onto a balcony which overlooks the pool).
The gym space is decked out with plasma tvs, music, and a huge range of machines designed to get your pulse racing. I normally try and go between 3 and 4 times a week, and it can get very busy late afternoon/​early evening, so if you want privacy, avoid these times. There is a nice café space on the bottom floor behind the main desk, which serves light snacks and drinks as an incentive to those who come in to work out, or simply as a relaxing place for onlookers to wait for family and friends.
The use of the facilities at the centre comes in at a very reasonable £25 a month for unlimited usage, so there really is no excuse to not get cracking and get on those treadmills!

Now that Spring is here, there is this very addictive need to and shop for all things beachy, sunglasses, shorts and some very attractive swim suits! Now where in Manchester can we try them on? Hmmmm
‘Manchester Aquatic Centre!’ Yes we thought right. This place is obviously huge, as huge as it looks from the outside! It has two huge pools, one hot tub, and one baby pool with a funny twirling slide which I’ve always and forever wanted to try out! So the changing area’s are immense and plenty. And you can blow dry yourself later for 20p and come out looking fresh and new!
The chlorine smell can follow you around from when you step in front of it while walking around scu bar to bbc area. Very strong indeed, so bring in some googles as the water can turn your lovely eyes red after a good hour in the water. Hygeine wise it is very safe and well maintained. There are also lessons and memberships to be taken which works out very cheap for students. Otherwise there is a one time charge of just £1.90 if you have a valid NUS card, else it should be £3 something, I’m not really sure since I’m a NUS benefitter!
I love the pool and the water and the swimming!

Swimming and I have had a strange reputation. When I was younger I used to hate the sea with a passion, and refuse to enter unless I was literally forced. Then, as soon as I got wet I would demand a new pair of swimming trunks. I solved this by one day running straight into the sea just as we were about to leave whilst wearing my trousers. I was 22 years old.
I also nearly drowned once, but that mostly gave me a crippling fear of sport camp reps. But that’s a story for another time. Anyway, the Aquatics Centre offers just about everything you could want from a swimming complex: slides, kid’s area, big pool, gym. And you can get a gym membership should you so want, and at reasonable prices as well. I’m not the world’s greatest swimmer, so I don’t come often, but whenever I have done I’ve always had a fun time, which is essentially the whole point of swimming, right?

If ever I’m fed up of the Mancunian drizzle and downpours then this is the place I come. It’s worth every one of the 310 pennies it costs to go for a swim just to escape the outside world. It’s like a holiday in Spain but without the sangria (actually I did once come here after a bottle of wine — not recommended).
I usually swim a mile here — the only problem is I’m a bit fast for the slow lane and a bit slow for the medium lane so I try to come when the whole 50m pool is open to the public rather than just 25m of it, meaning there are more lanes available and I don’t have to spend so long avoiding the natterers at the ends. I like the fact that there is always a separate area for people to mess about in, meaning that people who go to the swimming pool to swim can do just that without being splashed in the face by a 12 year old scal being catapulted into the air. I like the fact that people always talk to you there (maybe that’s just me?). I like the way that the lifeguards appear to be asleep but then manage to spot everyone swimming against the flow, splashing, diving, running or heavy petting. I like the vending machines. I even like the jacuzzi.
The only things I don’t like about this place is the fact that the big slides are only open for 1 hour each week, the women’s toilets always stink of piss and are usually blocked and the showers have been known to vary between unbearably cold and scolding temperatures within a split second.

Manchester Aquatics Centre was built for the Commonwealth Games back in 2002. In the hub of Manchester’s studentville, it combines a 50m pool with a diving pool and boards, a kiddies play pool, slides and a wealth of health and fitness facilities.
The main 50m pool can be split into two 25m pools, and the diving pools floor can change depth at the touch of a button. If you’re serious about your water sports, be it swimming, water polo or diving, then you’re more than sorted.
The best thing about the aquatics centre is that though it is designed for top class athletes, provision of facilities for everyone is at the top of the agenda. A swim costs £3.20, and you can go lane swimming at any time during the day or evening, with a general pool open all the time too.
If you’re driving to the aquatics centre, you can park for free on the nearby Kincardine Road for a couple of hours. Much better than using the expensive multi-​storey car park.
The gym and workout studios are located up on the first floor overlooking the pool. Both my girlfriend and I have a yearly membership that lets us swim or use the gym whenever we want. It would have cost just over £20 a month, but we paid the whole thing at once which takes the price down to about £18 a month. What a total bargain! Other gyms can cost around a monthly £30 or £40 whilst still having restrictions on when you can go with on and off-​peak time zones. There’s none of this at the aquatics centre.
Signing up the gym is quick and easy at the desk next to reception. You can do this during normal working office hours and weekends. We had to wait quite a long time for our induction (2 weeks), which just turned out to be a quick wander around the equipment, all of which we’ve used before at other gyms.
Apart from this tiny frustration, I love the Manchester Aquatics Centre. Cost-​wise it really is a bargain and the equipment and facilities are all top notch.

Manchester Aquatics Centre is a world class facility purpose-​built for the successful Commonwealth Games in 2002. There’s not just one but 2 50m pools in here as well as separate diving and leisure pools.
I come here on a pay-​as-​you-​go basis for £3.10 a visit but you can also become a member and I believe there are discounts for residents who’ll also have access to a gym, lessons and fitness centre as well as a café. On the days I’m feeling like a workout I’ll do some lengths, on other days I’m inclined to languish in the leisure pool and take advantage of the slides. Check the website for details on pool sessions and lessons.