Swimming is one of the most effective ways to exercise or if you just want to unwind and have some fun. Our pools offer a balanced mix of everything from casual public swimming to competitive swimming/diving for our clubs, swimming lessons and water aerobics and for those who want to have fun come and try out our waterslides and inflatables.
All our poolside staff are fully qualified lifeguards, providing a safe and secure environment for all our customers.
The Dolphin Centre offers an outstanding pool complex that includes an:
Eight-lane, 25m competition standard swimming pool, Training Pool, Interactive Toddler Pool, 1m, 3m and 5m Board Diving Pool and two Waterslides.
Darlington Masters and Darlington Amateur Swimming Club both train at the Dolphin Centre. Please visit the partner links to find out more information.
Swimming Pool Opening Hours
Monday 06:30 - 20:30
Tuesday 06:30 - 17:45
Wednesday 06:30 - 21:00
Thursday 06:30 - 21:00
Friday 06:30 - 21:00
Saturday 08:00 - 14:00
Sunday 08:00 - 16:30
Inflatables
Shiver Me Timbers, our 18-metre pool inflatable combined with the latest chart hits makes this session very popular and packed with fun.
Saturday 14:00 - 16:00
Please note below opening/closing times during the school holidays
School Holidays
During school holidays (excluding Christmas Holidays) our inflatables operate on weekday afternoons 14:00 - 16:00. Please contact our Reception on 01325 388406 for further details.
Waterslides
Monday 16:00 - 19:30
Tuesday 16:00 - 17:30
Wednesday 16:00 - 20:00
Thursday 16:00 - 19:30
Friday 16:00 - 20:00
Saturday 10:00 - 16:00
Sunday 10:00 - 16:00
During the school holiday our slides open at 10:00.
Occasionally, opening hours can be subject to change. Please check with our Reception.
Adult Lane Swimming
If lane swimming is your thing and you would like to swim in peace and quiet without distraction, we offer adult swimming sessions when the whole of the 25 metre pool is divided into lanes.
Tuesday and Wednesday 21:00 - 22:00
Within our wet changing village we have provided ‘access for all’, offering a much improved modern changing environment.
Our facilities include:
- Separate male and female toilet areas – each of which has a private shower cubicle.
- 19 showers in total, 7 of which are fully private showers.
- 57 changing cubicles in total, 16 of which are the larger family changing cubicles and 8 have baby-changing beds.
- 3 salon style hairdryers, these are free of charge.
- The space within the changing village complies with all DDA and Health and Safety regulations.
- This means that there is enough room for a wheelchair and a double pushchair to manoeuvre and also provides enough space for a safe evacuation of customers in the event of a fire alarm.
Prams and pushchairs cannot be taken onto the poolside. Please use our buggy park provided next to our 'Under the Sea' Soft Play area.
Within our accessible change there is a shower that is thermostatically controlled, thus enabling customers to have a cooler shower if so desired.