Perdiswell Leisure Centre Bilford Road Worcester
Once inside, the swimming pool is the star of the show. It’s a proper 25-metre job, but it has a personality all its own. The shallow end is a toddler mosh pit, while the deep end is for serious swimmers who look at you with judgment if you dare to breaststroke.
My favourite part is the wave machine, which turns the place into a lazy ocean for exactly eight minutes. When the “waves” hit, grown adults scream like they’ve seen a shark in the kiddie lane. It’s the closest thing to a beach holiday you’ll get without leaving Worcester city limits.
A surprising fact: the pool water is heated by a massive gas boiler, but I swear it’s warmer in the changing rooms. You’ll need a hazmat suit just to brave the tiles between your locker and the water.