Looking for the cleaniest, most relaxed pool in St Albans and vicinity

[hobbgoblin]

Hi. DCs want to go swimming. I don't as not all of them are without armbands yet and one is only 6months old so it is a real headache taking them all together.

Are there any nice clean pools nearby-ish where I am able to be close to the water's edge even if not in swimming gear the whole time (once baby has had enough) with a warm and shallow bit, etc.

There was a pool in Keswick that was like a beach and you could sit at tables all around it or on the 'sand' where warm water lapped up your sides which was lovely for babies.

Am NOT up for travelling 260 miles to go for a swim though.

I'm not very au fait with the pools round here anymore as we use the one at Nuffield (used to be Cannons). Not sure if Hatfield still has a baby pool but it's a nice pool overall. Or further afield, we use John Warner in Hoddesdon or the Lido in Broxbourne (more of a fun pool, wave machine, very shallow sections).

The nicest pool that isn't private is the one at Hatfield University imo. They are quite strict about adult to child ratios though so not sure you would be able to get out if you are the only adult going? It is based on dcs ages rather than ability to swim...

Aquasplash at Hemel may be more what you are after but again under 8s are supposed to have an adult with them.

The one at hatfield university is clean and modern. They have family fundays at the weekend with loads of toys and raise the pool floor to make it shallow

They do family fundays on Sundays between 11am and 1pm and on Wednesday (not sure what time) BUT the pool temperatures seem to be quite low and they have no baby pool. They lower down the pool to about 1m so you will end up spending the whole time in the pool and never let free play unless in a floaty. However I have to agree it is very clean, modern and peaceful.