Tower Hamlets Council is announcing the introduction of free swimming for families, which will allow parents and carers in the borough to bring up to two children to family swim sessions for free at Be Well leisure centres across the borough.
After bringing leisure centres in Tower Hamlets into public hands under the banner Be Well, the council introduced free swimming for all women and girls in the borough aged 16+ and men aged over 55. Adults over the age of 55 have the lowest rate of physical activity in the borough and women residents are more likely to be inactive than male residents.
Today, this free swimming programme is being expanded beyond women and girls aged 16 and over, and residents aged 55 and over, to include men aged over 35. The new parent and child option will also allow adult resident Be Well members to bring up to two children for free during designated family swim sessions, starting from 6 April 2026.
The programme supports our commitment to removing barriers to physical activity and tackling the health inequalities faced by our community and increasing family activity time. 20,583 residents have taken up the free swimming scheme since it was launched by the council. Of those, over 18,000 are women and girls aged 16 and over, and nearly 3,900 residents aged 55 or over. Today’s announcement expands free swimming to thousands more residents.
Swimming is a vital life skill, and with Tower Hamlets experiencing high levels of poor health – including half of adults being overweight or obese and a quarter reporting poor mental health – making swimming free helps open up an activity that strengthens every major muscle group, boosts mental wellbeing, builds water confidence and improves water safety skills.
The free swimming programme is designed to inspire more residents to be active by removing cost as a barrier and widening access to those who need it most.
Swimming pools are closing around the country: more than 1,000 have closed in the last 15 years, including 500 council pools, representing a reduction of more than 34,000 square metres of water space nationwide.
Swimming pools are among the most expensive public buildings to operate, requiring continuous water heating, ventilation and filtration systems. In Tower Hamlets, the council is investing in its leisure offer to promote healthier communities to support residents’ journeys to healthier lifestyles.
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:
“Swimming is a vital life skill and we want all children in Tower Hamlets to be able to learn to swim. We are removing financial barriers by expanding free swimming to families, as well as all women and girls over the age of 16 and all adult men over the age of 35, to tackle persistent health inequalities in our borough.
“At a time when thousands of pools have been closed nationwide, I’m proud that Tower Hamlets is leading the way with our investment to significantly increase access to swimming, with more than 20,500 residents having already taken up our free swimming programme. I’m delighted that we are now expanding this to thousands more residents.
“We will continue to invest in opportunities that support health and wellbeing across the borough, removing as many barriers as possible while also modernising and upgrading facilities, with our £40 million investment in leisure over ten years.”
Lesley Bryant, Engagement Manager, Swim England, said:
“Swimming is a fantastic way for people to look after both their physical and mental health. Spending time in the water can help improve fitness, reduce stress and build confidence, and it’s something people of any age or ability can enjoy.
“Opportunities like this can make a real difference by helping remove some of the barriers that stop people being active.
“Being able to swim regularly, whether that’s individually or with family can support healthier, happier communities and help more people experience the lifelong benefits that being active in the water can bring.”
Cllr Mohammed Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, said:
“I’m pleased to see our free swimming programme expanding to support even more residents.
“Extending the offer to men aged 35 and over, and introducing free parent and child sessions, will help more families and individuals enjoy the physical and mental health benefits that swimming provides.
“This expansion is part of our wider ambition to make it easier for residents to lead active, healthy lives and to ensure our leisure facilities remain welcoming, accessible spaces for the whole community.”
The expanded free swimming programme launches on 1 April 2026, when residents can begin signing up for memberships. Swimming sessions will be available to book from 6 April. Visit the Be Well free swimming webpage for terms and conditions and to register for a free swim membership.
Posted on Monday 16th March 2026