Farewell to Seven Islands

Seven Islands swimming pool in Rotherhithe is due to close later in 2025 to make way for a new swimming pool/leisure centre at Canada Water. The new centre will no doubt have more up to date facilities than its predecessor but lets spare a moment for the fading grandeur of this 1960s classic.

Opened in 1965, it takes its name from a previous series of  ponds on/near to its current site. The pool itself is an unusual 33 metres long, so a bit more of a stretch than the standard 25m and very welcome if you are training. Southwark Aquatics Swimming Club have been based there for years.

There is a perspective on any pool that only the swimmer really sees underwater. In this case there is a sudden drop at the deep end, almost a cliff ledge, presumably at one time this depth would have enabled high board diving but no sign of that today

And let's not forget the magnificent tiling on outside of the building.