​UK’s First Geothermal Lido Opens In Cornwall

The UK's first geothermal lido has now opened, giving Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon a run for its money with year-round warm water and stunning views.

The new lido has opened up at the art deco Jubilee Pool in Penzance, Cornwall, which has been a tourist hotspot ever since it made its debut in 1935.

The new geothermal pool is heated to temperatures up to 35°C, meaning you'll be able to bathe in the natural salt water even when things begin to get chilly - all while looking out at the incredible Cornish views, including of nearby St Michael's Mount.

In a similar way to how the Blue Lagoon works, the water is heated by geothermal energy, drawing warm water from a geothermal well and transferring the heat to the pool.

David Pearson/Alamy Stock Photo

"The geothermal system operates by extracting warm water from the geothermal well taking heat out of that water using heat pumps and distributing it to the pool via a heat exchanger, before re-injecting the cooler water back into the ground," the Jubilee Pool website explains.

"This combined system means that the temperature of the pool can be sustained with a very low carbon footprint. It is the first of its kind in the United Kingdom and will act as a showcase for geothermal, low carbon heat supply."

The idea of adding a heated section to Jubilee Pool was first dreamt up over a pint, when Charlie Nixon - brother of former Jubilee Pool Director Martin Nixon - returned from New Zealand, where he had bathed in geothermal pools.

Hugh R Hastings/Getty Images

Realising that people often struggle with the pool's chilly water temperature, Charlie and Martin decided they could mimic the idea, and took the idea up with Cornwall Council.

It took 10 years and 'a £1.8m funding package' to make the idea a reality, but now we're finally there after the 'first geothermally heated pool of its kind in the UK' opened to the public last week (1 September).

Ryan Law, managing director of Geothermal Engineering Limited, told local media: "The system we have drilled and installed is one of the lowest forms of carbon heating available and is part of the growing movement to use sustainable heating sources across the UK.

"I'm delighted that the geothermal pool at Jubilee Pool, Penzance, is now open. It's the first geothermally-heated lido in the UK and is a flagship for geothermal energy in general."

Topics: UK News, cornwall, News

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

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