Pools on the Park in Richmond unveils a new studio as upgrades begin

In Old Deer Park, between Richmond town centre and the Thames, Pools on the Park has been a favourite for swimmers since the 1960s. Now the much loved centre is getting a refresh, with a new studio unveiled this spring and further improvements planned.

In March 2026, councillors Alan Juriansz and Julia Neden-Watts opened a new multi purpose studio at the centre. It doubles the capacity for popular spin classes and other activities, helping to meet growing demand. The café toilets were also refurbished.

Richmond Council describes the investment as part of a wider effort to promote healthier, more active communities and to keep the centre a key leisure hub in the borough. "This is the start of significant investment in the health and wellbeing of our communities," said Councillor Juriansz, the council's lead member for sport.

The centre has been run since October 2025 by GLL, a charitable social enterprise, under a new ten year contract. In its first five months, the number of pre paid members grew by 14 per cent. GLL's director of operations, Simon Sen, said the organisation reinvests its surpluses, and promised: "Leisure customers will notice further improvements to come."

Those planned works include refurbishing the gym area and changing rooms, improving the swimming pool area and upgrading the sauna and steam provision.

The main draw for many visitors remains the water. Pools on the Park has both an indoor pool and an outdoor lido, and the outdoor pool is heated. It opens all day in the summer months, with morning swimming offered for the rest of the year, which makes it a popular spot for year round outdoor swimmers. The complex also includes a spa and a fitness centre.

The setting is part of the charm, with the green expanse of Old Deer Park around the centre and the river close by. An early morning swim followed by a walk along the Thames towpath is one of the nicest ways to start a day in Richmond.

Pools on the Park is in Old Deer Park, TW9 2SF, a short walk from Richmond station. For timetables, memberships and swimming sessions, visit the Richmond Council or Better websites.