Lido Land

'Tom Fort has a unique knack of finding new ways to reflect Britain back to ourselves and Lido Land may be his best book yet!' Charlie Connelly, author of The Shipping NewsPeople are currently flocking to Britain’s lidos in their thousands. But this isn’t the first time they’ve made a splash. From the author of The A303: HIghway to the Sun comes a deep dive into the British lido's historical and cultural significance that will make you fall in love with outdoor swimming and the communities around it. Did you know that lidos facilitated post-Victorian moves towards female liberation through the shrinking of swimming costumes and the loosening of moral standards? Have you heard of the mayor who stripped off his ceremonial robes and chain before diving headlong into Guildford Lido? Or of Sean Connery’s time as a lifeguard at Porty Pool?Communities are once again gathering around their pools in all weathers, and it’s high time to dip into the lido’s glorious history.In this book, Tom Fort takes us on a fascinating journey around the UK’s lidos past and present, proving that lidos can tell us more about social trends, progress and political ideology than you might think. He shows us, time and time again, the personal significance of the lidos’ communal spaces: the unmistakable cold of the first moments of full immersion, the sounds and smells of poolside sunbathing, the sun-baked tiles underfoot and the warm towel after a freezing dip. Fort, with his characteristic wryness and nostalgia, gathers memories and observations from the swimmers he meets along the way, interspersing these with historical fragments and moments from his own history. He laments the lidos we have lost, celebrates those saved by persistent community organising, and takes a frank look into their future.