Adult Swimming Lessons

Why choose Nuffield Health for swimming lessons?

*Membership-free swimming lessons available at selected gyms.

Supporting adult swimmers at every stage

Swimming is a vital skill, no matter your age or ability. If you’re new to swimming, coming back after a break, or want to build your confidence in the water, our adult lessons are here to help.

You’ll get step-by-step guidance from our expert swim instructors and make real progress in confidence and technique, all at a pace that suits you.

Our instructors are fully qualified through Swim England or an equivalent body. They follow trusted national guidelines to help you build your swimming skills, improve your technique, and stay safe in the water — with no upper age limit.

Book swimming lessons

Adult swimming stages

To keep things simple, we break our lessons down into different stages so you can easily identify where you’re at now and what level you’d like to get to in the future.

Private swimming lessons

If you’d feel more comfortable learning with focused instructor support, we offer private 1-to-1 and adult swimming lessons.

These sessions provide personalised guidance to help you build confidence and develop your skills at a pace that suits you.

Check availability at your local centre

If you have any questions, check our FAQs, visit your local gym or use the enquiry form below.

Adult swimming lessons FAQs

• Adult swimming lessons
  • What age groups do you offer adult lessons for?

    Our adult swimming lessons are available for anyone aged 16 and over.

  • What types of adult swimming lessons do you provide?

    We offer a range of adult swimming options to suit all abilities. Our very small group lessons have a maximum of four swimmers, creating a friendly and inclusive environment with plenty of individual support.

    We also provide 1-to-1 and 2-to-1 lessons for those who prefer more personalised coaching or focused technique development.

  • How long is a swimming lesson?

    All our swim lessons are 30 minutes long, except for our Squad group lessons, which are 60 minutes long.

  • Are the classes mixed gender?

    Yes, our swimming lessons are open to any adult who wants to learn to swim.

  • Do swimming lessons run over bank holidays?

    Yes, our swimming lessons run for 50 weeks of the year, including bank holidays.

    We take a two-week break over Christmas, when lessons pause.

    If you need specific dates for your centre, please check with the team at your local club.

  • Do you offer discounts?

    All Nuffield Health members receive 25% off adult and children's swimming lessons.

• Buying swimming lessons
  • Buying swimming lessons
    • How much do swimming lessons cost?

      We offer both private (1-to-1 or 2-to-1) and group swimming lessons. For detailed pricing, please speak to your local centre.

    • How can I purchase swimming lessons?

      The first step is to submit an enquiry through our online swim booking portal, which you can access via the Swim Booking button on our swim pages. If you prefer, you can also make an enquiry in person at your local centre.
      
      All group swimming lessons are paid for by monthly direct debit. For private lessons, you can choose to pay by monthly direct debit or purchase a block of 4-lesson or 8-lesson packs, giving you the flexibility to select the option that suits you best.

    • Do I have to be a member of Nuffield Health to purchase swimming lessons?

      At most of our centres, swimming lessons are available to members and non-members. Please ask at your local centre for information on any restrictions.
      
      The centres that do not offer lessons to non-members are: Baltimore Wharf, Barbican, Bridgend, Bristol North, Cannock, Chester, Chislehurst, Ealing, Friern Barnet, Gloucester, Kingston, Liverpool, Paddington, Surbiton, Warwick and Wolverhampton.
      
      At some of our centres, our swim school is oversubscribed. In these cases, you will need to be a member to take part in swimming lessons.

    • What happens once I have paid for my swim packs?

      You will receive an email confirming the times and days of your swimming lessons. You will also receive a link to view the swimmer's CoursePro progress.
      
      Once the initial payment has been made, you will be able to view your direct debit details and lessons through this portal. You will also be able to see all criteria assessments for the stages booked.

    • Who carries out swimming lessons?

      Our highly skilled swimming instructors deliver lessons in accordance with the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme Framework.

    • How do I arrange my lessons?

      Please arrange your lessons via our online booking portal, or speak with a member of the team at your local centre, who will be happy to help.

    • How long is a swimming lesson?

      All our swim lessons are 30 minutes long, except for our Squad group lessons, which are 60 minutes long.

    • What strokes and skills are covered in Nuffield Health's swimming lessons?

      We follow the Swim England Framework for both children and adults, teaching the four main strokes: front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.
      
      You or your child will also learn important skills such as treading water, pushing off and gliding, diving, and submerging to retrieve objects from the bottom of the pool.

  • Cancellations and missing a lesson
    • What happens when lessons need to be cancelled?

      Teacher absences
      
      If a swimming teacher is absent and we are unable to provide a qualified replacement, the lesson will be cancelled. A pro-rata adjustment for the missed session will be applied to your next month's direct debit payment. Refunds are not issued.
      
      Lesson cancellations by Nuffield Health
      
      If we need to cancel a lesson for any reason, including pool closures, operational issues or staffing, a pro-rata adjustment will be applied to your following month's direct debit. Refunds are not provided.
      
      Non-attendance
      
      If a swimmer misses a lesson for any reason, including illness, holidays or personal commitments, the session cannot be refunded, credited or rescheduled.

    • What happens if I miss a lesson?

      If a lesson is missed for any reason, including illness, holidays or personal circumstances, the session cannot be refunded, credited or rescheduled.

      If you are unable to attend lessons for an ongoing medical reason, please provide a medical note confirming that you or your child cannot swim, and contact your local centre as soon as possible.

    • Can I cancel swim lessons purchased online via CoursePro or in-centre before the course or session starts?

      We run a continuous swim programme. If Nuffield Health needs to cancel a swimming lesson, your direct debit payment will be adjusted in the following month to reflect the cancelled session.
      
      Please note: If the centre remains open and lessons go ahead, including during adverse weather, missed sessions cannot be refunded, rescheduled or credited.

      For private 1-to-1 or 2-to-1 lessons, you may cancel before the session starts. A minimum of 24 hours' notice is required. Failure to provide sufficient notice will result in the session being charged in full.

      Please note: A message left on an answerphone is not considered sufficient notice.

    • Can I amend or change the time of my swimming lessons?

      We can change times and days on a permanent basis, but not on a weekly basis.

    • What happens if I get injured and can't continue with my swimming lessons or course?

      We allow swim subscriptions to be frozen for full calendar months in cases of prolonged illness or injury, provided you submit appropriate medical documentation.
      
      We are unable to freeze payments for:

      • Absences of one week or less
      • Minor illnesses (for example, colds or seasonal bugs)
      • Short-term holidays or personal commitments
      • School breaks or temporary preferences
      • Temporary personal health needs (for example, menstruation)
    • When do my swimming lessons expire?

      All private lesson packs (1-to-1 and 2-to-1) expire after 90 days. This means you can use your lessons for up to 90 days from the date of purchase. If you do not use your lessons within the 90-day window, they will be lost, except in medical or extenuating circumstances.
      
      Group lessons run as part of a continuous course for 50 weeks of the year.

    • What happens to my lessons if they go past their expiry date?

      If your lessons pass their expiry date and have not been used, the remaining lessons will be lost.

    • Can I get a refund if I don't like it?

      Nuffield Health Swim School does not provide refunds for lessons. Refunds are only considered in exceptional circumstances, and only at the discretion of management.

      In medical circumstances where you or your child are unable to continue swimming, a refund may be considered only when appropriate medical documentation is provided.