FAQs
General Building & Facilities
General opening hours are typically:
- Monday – Friday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Saturday – Sunday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM Hours for specific activities (like the climbing wall or pools) may differ. It’s always best to check the specific timetable.
Yes, there is ample parking available for centre users. Please be aware that time restrictions and “pay and display” or “pay on exit” systems may be in effect.
Yes, there is a café located on the ground floor, to the left of the main entrance.
Yes, the centre is designed to be highly accessible. Key features include:
- Step-free level access throughout the building.
- Lifts to all floors.
- Designated Blue Badge parking spaces.
- Multiple accessible toilets and a Changing Places facility.
- Pool hoists for water access.
- Hearing loops in key areas.
Most of our sites offer free Wi-Fi. You will be required to enter a few details and accept the terms and conditions.
Plymouth Active Leisure Ltd (PAL) is committed to providing a diverse and meaningful range of leisure, health and wellbeing related activities for our communities. Attracting and retaining a diverse workforce strengthens our ability to deliver these goals.
We are committed to equal opportunities and the fair treatment of our workforce and have a transparent and clear pay structure, paying employees equally for the same, or equivalent, work regardless of gender.
Children's Activities (Crèche & Parties)
Yes, the Life Centre has a crèche. Based on the term-time programme, it typically operates Monday to Wednesday, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and is for children under 8 years old. It’s always best to check the current timetable or call the centre to confirm availability and pricing.
Yes, the centre offers several types of parties, which include a party host, invitations, and a free slushy for the birthday child. Options include:
- Inflatable & Soft Play Party: (Ages 4-12) A 90-minute session in the sports hall with a jungle inflatable assault course, soft play, and Didi cars.
- Diving Party: (Ages 8-15) An hour of fun in the diving pool, plus time in a designated party room.
- Climbing Party: (Ages 5+) A 70-minute climbing session on the main wall, followed by time in a party room.
Food is not included as standard, but catering options (both hot and cold) can be added for an extra cost (e.g., £5-£6 per person). You are also welcome to bring your own food for your celebration.
The Gym
The gym is one of the largest in the city, featuring over 150 stations. It was recently refurbished and includes:
- Cardio: Treadmills, cross-trainers, upright & recumbent bikes, stair climbers, and rowing machines.
- Specialist: A dedicated Wattbike area.
- Strength: A large free-weights area with squat racks, benches, and dumbbells, plus a wide range of resistance machines.
- Technology: The gym features modern EGYM and Precor equipment to help track your workouts.
Yes, the centre has a team of personal trainers. You can contact them directly or ask at the gym reception for more information on their services and pricing.
Yes, an induction is required for all new members to ensure you can use the equipment safely and correctly.
Racquet Sports & Bowls
Yes, you can book courts for squash, badminton, pickleball, and table tennis. The centre also has a 12-court multi-use sports hall and an 8-rink indoor bowls hall.
As a pay-as-you-go user, a 45-minute court booking is approximately £7.50 for an adult or £6.80 for a junior. Court hire is included in some all-inclusive memberships.
You can book a court online via the Plymouth Active website, through the Plymouth Active app, or in person at the centre’s reception.
Yes, the centre has a large 8-rink indoor bowls hall. You can book rinks for pay-as-you-go sessions (typically 50 or 105 minutes).
Yes, the Plymouth Life Centre Indoor Bowls Club is based at the centre and welcomes new members of all abilities. They run leagues, and competitions, and offer coaching for beginners.
Swimming & Poolside
The pools are maintained at specific temperatures for comfort:
- Toddler Pool: Approximately 29.9°C
- Main Pool & Dive Pool: Approximately 28°C
Yes, there are separate male and female shower areas (which are enclosed) as you enter the changing village.
The lockers require a £6.50 deposit, which is fully refundable upon return of your band.
Yes, there is a designated pram parking area located opposite the changing village entrance. This requires a £10 fully refundable deposit. Please note that for safety reasons, prams are not allowed on the poolside.
Yes, you can pay for individual “pay-as-you-go” swim sessions. As of late 2025, typical prices are:
- Adult Public Swim: £5.90
- Junior Swim: £4.40
Unfortunately, we do not sell alcohol during our usual trading hours. We do not permit alcohol within the Lidos.
When we are hosting events, we do offer a bar, but this is only during the Live at the Lido events.
Yes, but please be mindful, No alcohol, No glass bottles!
We sell beach balls and suncream at Tinside Lido along with a selection of other essentials!
These are linked to our drowning detection system, which uses underwater cameras to monitor the pool, and is designed to detect a lack of or irregular movement in the pool. It continuously scans the water and alerts our lifeguards if it detects any signs of swimmers getting into difficulty.
We have a small amount of shade, but we advise to wear sun hats and glasses where possible.
We have deck chairs available at Tinside to hire.
Swimming Lessons
Prices are based on a monthly direct debit. As a guide, prices start from approximately £34.50 per month for junior lessons and £39.40 per month for adult lessons.
The membership includes the scheduled weekly lesson and free public swimming for the child all year round. If your child is under the age of 5, an accompanying adult can also swim for free with them during public sessions.
If a child does not attend a lesson, they will not lose their space in the class. However, the centre does not provide credits or refunds for non-attendance or sickness. Credits are only issued if a lesson is cancelled by the centre itself due to operational issues.
Climbing
Yes, the Life Centre has one of the tallest climbing walls in the South West, with walls ranging from 6 to 16 metres and a separate bouldering room.
The climbing wall’s typical hours are:
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
For general (un-instructed) climbing, you do not need to book in advance. However, you will need to book for instructed sessions, taster sessions, and beginner courses.
Yes, the centre offers a wide range of instructed sessions, including:
- Taster sessions
- Adult beginner courses
- Sessions for kids
- Coaching sessions
There are dedicated climbing memberships available (e.g., approximately £32.00 per month for an adult). Pay-as-you-go options are also available for single climbs.
Membership
The Life Centre offers a variety of membership options, including:
- Active Premium and Active fitness and swim memberships
- Active Swim-only memberships
- Climbing-only memberships
- Junior memberships
Yes. You can pay-as-you-go for most activities, including public swimming, gym sessions, and climbing, though the cost per visit will be higher than for a member.
Have a question?
If your question wasn’t answered from our FAQs above, please get in touch and a member of our team will be happy to help.