Our Victorian Swimming pool and baths has seen many changes throughout its 120 years of history. Interact with the images below to see for yourself what Portobello Swim Centre once looked like in days gone by!

The external façade of the building is mostly unchanged, aside from the addition of the disabled access ramp in 1998. 

1901

J. K. Home Crawford

2023

Edinburgh Leisure


The Main Pool was previously the Men's Swimming Pond. Over the years, it has been altered with each centre's refurbishment. Although it no longer has trapeze rings or diving platforms, it still retains many original features, creating a timeless environment.

 

1901

J. K. Home Crawford

2023

Edinburgh Leisure

1901

J. K. Home Crawford

1990

Canmore

1998

Capital Collections


Once a gymnasium for male customers, this building's area now stores our lane ropes and lifeguard training equipment. 


1901

J. K. Home Crawford

2023

Edinburgh leisure 

First Known as the ladies' swimming pond, it become the Teaching Pool in the 1967 refurbishment, and later in 1998 the Small Pool we know today. 


1901

 J. K. Home Crawford

1990

Canmore

2023

Edinburgh Leisure 

Our Turkish bath is one of only three that remain in Scotland. It is also the only Turkish bath in the city of Edinburgh and is the only one of the three not run by a private club. 


1901

J. K. Home Crawford

1998

Capital Collections

1990

Canmore

2008

Canmore

This space was originally the men's smoking room. It's now our fitness studio for classes such as Body Pump, 15/15/15 and Hatha yoga. 


1901

J. K. Home Crawford

2023

Edinburgh Leisure

Until recently, this room had been used for low-impact fitness classes. It was initially the centre's refreshment room, where fresh tea and coffee would be served after a swimming session. This room still has the original dumbwaiter doors, which are no longer functional. 


1901

J. K. Home Crawford

1998

Capital Collection

2023

Edinburgh Leisure

This area of the building was originally the Ladies' Retiring Room. In later refurbishments, it becomes a café, serving drinks and snacks for after swims. Due to the high demand for our courses, this is now used as a classroom for NPLQ and SSTQ training. 


1901

J. K Home Crawford

2023

Edinburgh Leisure


Installed in June 1939, the giant metal contraption was the precursor to the modern-day jacuzzi. 

It was still in operation until 2019 but is now no longer in use. 




1990 - Canmore


Though we have gone paper free to limit our impact on the environment, there was a time when paper copies of promotional leaflets like this were handed out at the centre's reception desk. 

This particular leaflet was created for the re-opening of the centre after the 1998 refurbishment. Click here to view in full. 


1998

Edinburgh Leisure

1998

Edinburgh Leisure 

1998

Edinburgh Leisure

1998

Edinburgh Leisure



This webpage was created in conjunction with Edinburgh Napier University for an Honours project.