Poplar Baths Leisure Centre

Poplar Baths originally opened in 1934 and set new standards in the design of civic leisure facilities. Designed primarily as a public swimming pool, in winter the dramatic space transformed into an indoor events venue hosting theatre, cinema, dances and boxing matches. The building remained a focal point of the Poplar community until its closure in 1986, after which it fell into disuse and was entered on English Heritage’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register.

Grade II public leisure facility for today

The new facility includes:

25m swimming pool
Learner pool
Reinstated ‘vapour baths,’
Sports England standard sports hall
Studio and gym – including women’s only gym
Rooftop multi use games area

Together, these top-class leisure facilities will support a varied programme of sports and activities which have enhanced the health and quality of life of local people of all ages, while creating a landmark of which the community can once again be proud. Read more in the Poplar Baths Regeneration storybook

Designed, built, financed, maintained & operated

The local community succeeded in having the baths listed as Grade II in 2001. In 2014, we were appointed to restore the baths as part of a wider regeneration project for Tower Hamlets council. In partnership with leisure operator GLL and wider design team, we undertook to design, build, finance, maintain and operate the baths as a top class, affordable public leisure facility.

After nearly 30 years of standing empty, Poplar Baths was officially opened to the public on August 13^th by Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Biggs. Delivered as part of a wider public private partnership that also included 100 new socially let apartments and a new youth centre, the £15 million leisure centre now houses a 25m swimming pool and learner pool, restored plunge pool, a Sports England standard sports hall, large studio and gym with a women’s only area. Guildmore have also constructed a new state-of-the-art rooftop multi-use games area.

Brought back to life again to a design by Pringle Richard Sharratt Architects, working closely with Tower Hamlets Council and Historic England, this derelict London landmark has been lovingly restored, by saving and revealing the most important original features. The Guildmore team had to overcome numerous technical, structural, architectural & operational challenges. today, Poplar Baths Leisure Centre supports a varied programme of sports and activities: