Hitchin and Letchworth lidos have welcomed more than 127,000 visitors during the 2026 season, with visitor numbers up by almost 44 per cent compared with last year.
The two popular outdoor pools, managed by Everyone Active on behalf of North Herts Council, recorded a combined 127,820 visits during the 2026 season, compared with 88,910 in 2025.
Letchworth Lido welcomed 63,065 visitors, an increase of more than 19,000 on the 43,086 recorded in 2025, while Hitchin Lido recorded 64,755 visits, up from 45,824 last year.
The season saw particularly strong demand during periods of warm weather, with Letchworth Lido recording its busiest three-day period of the summer between Wednesday 12 and Friday 14 August, when 3,509 visitors attended. The spell of hot weather saw temperatures rise above 30 degrees Celsius in parts of the South East.
At Hitchin Lido, the busiest period came over the May bank holiday weekend, when 2,373 visitors attended across the three days, with heatwave conditions helping to draw people to the outdoor pool.
As well as regular lane and family swimming, the lidos hosted a programme of special events throughout the summer, including floating sound baths and solstice swims at both sites.
Tim Melvin, Everyone Active contract manager for North Herts, said: “It’s fantastic to see just how much people have made the most of Hitchin and Letchworth lidos this summer. The figures show that these are more than simply places to swim when the sun is out, they are much-loved facilities that bring people together and give residents somewhere to enjoy being active outdoors during the summer months.
“The response throughout the season, particularly during the hottest spells, has been a real reflection of the demand for outdoor swimming locally. I’d like to thank our teams at both sites for all their hard work in making the season such a success and for welcoming so many visitors through the doors.”
Letchworth Lido closed slightly more than a week earlier than planned in August following localised flooding. Its planned Doggy Splash sessions were subsequently moved to Hitchin Lido.
It was the first time Doggy Splash sessions had been offered in North Herts, and the relocated sessions at Hitchin attracted 281 dogs across the event, with extra sessions added in response to demand.
The event gave local dog owners the chance to enjoy the lido alongside their four-legged friends and rounded off the summer programme, with the pool thoroughly cleaned and disinfected afterwards.
Cllr Amy Allen, Executive Member for Environment at North Herts Council, said: “It’s great to see our lidos have had such a brilliant summer, with more than 127,000 visits between them. That’s a huge increase on last year and shows how much people enjoy having these facilities on their doorstep.
“It was lovely to see new events like Doggy Splash go down so well too. A big thank you to everyone who helped make the season such a success.”
The 2026 lido season has now come to an end, with Letchworth Lido due to return later in the year when the facility transforms into a festive ice rink.
Everyone Active manages Letchworth Lido and Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre on behalf of North Herts Council, alongside North Herts Leisure Centre, Royston Leisure Centre and Fearnhill Sports Centre.