Our Venues Old – Merbabies

Our
Venues

Take a look at all of the lovely swimming pools where we hold our classes.

Bo’ness Academy Swimming Pool

We love the large bright pool at Bo’ness Academy, where the water is 30.5 degrees. When you are in the car park facing the main school entrabce, the door for the pool is across to the right of that. When you go in, follow the corridor around to the right and then the pool area is entered either via the male or female changing areas. There are separate male and female changing rooms however these are communal. There are plenty lockers available and we provide changing mats however you may wish to bring along your own. If you want to bring along a family member to watch the class, there are seats available on poolside.

Damhead Private Pool

We love this beautiful pool which is lovely and cosy, heated to 32 degrees.Maximum class size at this venue is 6 children/adult pairs.

Some points to note:

If you enter the postcode into a SatNav, it won’t take you to the exact house. The easiest way is to enter ‘Dolphin Lifts Edinburgh’ into Google Maps and this will take you straight to the actual address. The house is situated about one mile south of the entrance to Hillend Ski Slope, and close to the City Bypass.

This pool is attached to the owner’s home and is predominantly used as a private pool. There is parking available and a parking plan which can be found in this link, with allocated spaces to use on the driveway, depending on your class time. Please do follow these instructions in order to avoid blocking in any cars from earlier classes or being blocked in yourself.

This map also gives you directions to the venue. Once you are parked, please walk around the right hand side of the house, along the decking at the back where you will find the pool entrance. Please remove shoes and socks and leave in the porch before entering the pool hall.

There are individually curtained off changing cubicles inside the pool hall for you to use, however there are no nappy bins provided so please take all nappies away with you. Once you are changed, please move your belongings to one side to allow space for the next class to change, whilst you are in the pool. No food is permitted in this pool hall, please save your snack for when you have left poolside! We recommend you bring a mat to change your baby at floor level. There is also a travel cot poolside which can be used to pop your little one in, while you finish getting changed yourself.

If you want to bring along a family member to watch the class, there is limited space for them to view the lesson therefore we would politely ask that only one spectator per child comes along to class and if you are bringing someone along, please travel in the same car due to the limited parking available.

Energize

Energize is a lovely bright, airy pool where the pool temperature sits at 29.1 degrees.

When you arrive, please head for the Reception Area which is down a few steps to your right. They’ll sign you in and direct you to the changing rooms. There are separate male and female changing rooms and there are both communal and cubicle facilities available. The lockers require you to take your own padlock. There is also a nappy bin provided for your use. Due to the venue’s rules, no prams, buggies or car seats are permitted in the changing rooms or on poolside. It’s best to either leave these in the car or they can be left in the lobby, just up from Reception.

There is a car park right outside the venue where you can park for free for up to 3 hours. There is also good transport links with the buses, trains and trams nearby.

If you want to bring along a friend or family member to watch the class, there is a viewing gallery upstairs, one level up from the pool where they will be welcome to watch the class (just ask at reception for directions).

If you are interested, you are welcome to let the Reception staff know you are a Merbabies swimmer and they will give you a free pass to use the health club yourself for a day.

Fauldhouse Partnership Centre

We love the Fauldhouse Partnership Centre, where the pool temperature is always lovely and warm, and typically sits between 31-32 degrees. When you arrive, go through the reception area where you will be directed to the pool which is along the corridor to the left of reception and clearly signposted from there. There are family changing rooms with plenty of lockers and changing tables.

There is plenty free parking available right next to the venue.

If you want to bring along a family member to watch the class, there is an area where they can stand and watch the class from poolside.

Inveralmond Community High School

Inveralmond Community High School was our very first Merbabies pool and we love it here. The water is warm and clean (around 30 degrees), the changing rooms are spotless and family friendly and the staff are super helpful.

When you arrive, head for the school reception and they will direct you to the pool and changing rooms. The pool is through the double doors, and up a small flight of stairs to your right hand side. There are separate male and female changing rooms and lockers which take a £1 coin. There are some family changing rooms available, changing tables on poolside and we also provide changing mats for your convenience. Please note that no buggies or prams should be taken into the changing rooms, these should be left at reception. There is plenty parking within the school grounds which is available for you to use.

If you want to bring along a family member to watch the class, there are seats available on poolside.

Inverkeithing High School

At Inverkeithing High School, where the pool temperature sits between 29.5 and 30 degrees.

The school is split into 2 buildings – the main school and then the community wing. The swimming pool is within the community wing. There is parking to the side of the community wing beside the tennis courts or at the front of the main school beside the bus parking. There are separate male and female communal changing rooms with lockers and we also provide changing mats for your convenience, or you are welcome to bring your own.

If you want to bring along a friend or family member to watch the class, there are seats available on poolside.

Novotel Edinburgh Park

One of our favourites… the pool is gorgeous, the after class coffee is amazing and they also provide our swimmers with one towel per person free of charge.

Novotel Edinburgh Park has a lovely pool, heated to a consistent 30 degrees. It is conveniently located at Hermiston Gait, Edinburgh, with easy access to both Edinburgh Park Station and a tram stop in under 5 mins of walking. It’s right at the joining point for the A71, M8 and City Bypass so easily reached by car from most directions. The address is –

If you are driving, please park in the hotel car park, to the rear of the hotel. Walk through reception and head downstairs to the pool area. You can help yourselves to towels at this venue, they are available just before you go into the changing areas. (Please just leave them in the towel bin at the end of your visit) You enter the pool area through the changing rooms. There are a couple of chairs on poolside as well as comfortable chairs just outside the pool, with a clear view through the window to the pool where anyone who accompanies you is welcome to watch the class from.

After class you are very welcome to have coffee or lunch in the bar area, there’s a small children’s corner with toys and books and when you are ready to leave just get your car park ticket validated by reception staff which will allow you to exit the car park barrier.

Oakland’s Special School

This is a hydrotherapy pool so pool temp sits around 33-34 degrees, beautifully warm for aquanatal yoga AND baby swim classes. There is secure parking on site, or there is regular bus services.

Venue Directions By Car to Car Park: Exit ferry road onto Pennywell Road. Take the first exit before Cleghorn Road. This small road can be found through the carpark of Craigroyston Health Centre. Follow the road around to the back of the school where you will find a car park and set of double doors in corner of the building.

Getting There By Bus: The following Lothian Buses stop near Oaklands: 21, 24, 27, 29, and 37.

Access to the pool is at the back of the school building whether you arrive on foot or by car.

Thurston Manor Holiday Park

Thurston Manor Holiday Park just outside Dunbar has a lovely warm swimming pool, perfect for running all of our classes.

Some things to know:

Changing rooms are male or female with cubicles;

Lockers have keys which you’ll be given at reception on arrival;

When you arrive onsite drive past reception and head straight on ahead to the leisure centre. You can park here. There is a shop and cafe in the same building where you can enjoy a post swim cuppa and snack.

What Our Cutomers say

Excellent classes! My son attends the preschool classes and it is the highlight of his week. I’ve watched him come on leaps and bounds with his water confidence over the past couple of weeks. Lesley and Lorna are amazing teachers with so much patience and keep learning to swim fun and engaging. I’m so pleased with the quality of the classes that my daughter is going to start the baby classes next term

Emma Victoria

I have been coming to class with Autumn since she was 12 weeks and we both love it. It has made her so confident in the water and its a really fun way to bond with baby. My husband and I take it in turns to go in the pool with her which I like as when I'm doing all the fun stuff with baby he is at work so it's nice for him to have some bonding time with her too. Lesley is a fantastic teacher.

Adelle Mooney

I can’t rate this class highly enough. It is such an amazing way to teach water safety while having a great time with your wee one. Lesley is an amazing teacher, very knowledgable with a lovely manner. Lyanna not only loves going (she gets SO excited when she sees the pool) but she has progressed so well in such a short time - we can’t wait to start the next block.

Claire Grady

Our Venues