**Remembering the Lost Lido: Cardiff’s Forgotten Outdoor Pool**
In the heart of Cardiff, there was once an outdoor swimming pool that brought together generations of families and friends. Now, with summer in full swing and families scouring the city for ways to keep children entertained, many long-time residents recall the absence of the much-loved Llandaff Fields lido, which served the capital for much of the 20th century.
The Llandaff Fields outdoor pool first opened its gates in June 1922, quickly establishing itself as a cherished amenity for locals. Sporting a main pool and a smaller paddling area, the lido offered a refreshing retreat during the warmer months. Positioned at the northern edge of Llandaff Fields, near what is now known as the Pontcanna Allotments, the pool earned a reputation for its bracingly cold water—a fact that did little to dampen the enthusiasm of Cardiff’s swimmers over the decades.
Throughout its operation, the lido was especially popular with children, who could enjoy a day at the pool for just two old pence in the 1930s. The lively scenes that unfolded each summer made the pool an iconic backdrop for many local childhoods, before its closure in 1994. Economic challenges and shifting recreational trends eventually led to the difficult decision to shut the facility. Since then, the site has been filled in and grassed over, quietly blending into the park’s landscape. Nonetheless, memories of splashing, laughter and sun-soaked afternoons endure for many.
The lido played a significant role within the city’s broader sporting heritage. When Cardiff hosted the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games—the only time the event has ever been held in Wales—the Llandaff pool was initially considered as a possible venue for swimming and diving competitions. However, organisers ultimately constructed the ambitious Empire Pool on Wood Street; it opened at the considerable cost of £650,000 and was lauded as a “showpiece building” for the Games. The Empire Pool itself was eventually demolished to make space for what is now the Principality Stadium, marking another chapter of sporting history lost beneath Cardiff’s changing skyline.
Comparisons are frequently drawn between the now-absent Llandaff lido and Cardiff’s modern International Pool, which features a host of slides and amenities undreamed of during the old lido’s heyday. Yet, for many nostalgic residents, the simplicity and sense of community fostered at the outdoor pool remain unmatched by today’s indoor facilities.
Archival photographs highlight the lido’s vibrant past. Images from the 1930s show gleeful children queuing for the slide, while shots from the 1960s reveal how packed the venue could become on sunny days. Lifeguards like Tony Dimeck became recognisable figures, maintaining the pool and ensuring the safety of the crowds who flocked there. The affection surrounding the lido is further amplified by family tales of summer picnics, lively games and a strong sense of camaraderie among swimmers.
Llandaff Fields lido was one of several council-run outdoor pools opened in Wales during the early 20th century, alongside the likes of Gelligaled Park in the Rhondda and East Parade in Rhyl. Today, however, Cardiff residents seeking outdoor swimming opportunities must head to places such as Pontypridd.
Community conversations about Cardiff’s lost lido reflect broader trends across the UK, where rising maintenance costs and evolving leisure habits have seen many similar facilities close. Nonetheless, some cities are reinvesting in new outdoor pools and lidos, recognising their value in promoting health and wellbeing. There are, as a result, periodic calls for the return of a city-centre lido for Cardiff, inspired by both nostalgia and a renewed interest in open-air swimming.
For now, the story of Llandaff Fields’ outdoor pool lives on in photo albums and family anecdotes—a sunlit chapter of Cardiff’s local history that still stirs wistfulness among those who remember dipping their toes into its legendary chilly waters. As Cardiff continues to evolve, the lido’s story serves as a reminder of the communal spaces that once played a central role in city life, and prompts ongoing discussion about the future shape of urban recreation in the Welsh capital.