Edinburgh · Indoor Leisure
Royal Commonwealth Pool
Royal Commonwealth Pool is an indoor swimming and leisure venue near Holyrood Park, with Clambers soft play for ages 0–10. Choose your activity before setting off: family swimming is currently unavailable while the teaching pool is closed.
- Ages
- Clambers 0–10; other activities vary
- Cost
- Swimming and soft play priced separately
- Weather
- Indoors
- Visit length
- Soft play: 60 or 90 minutes
Our family take
Clambers makes this a useful indoor play stop for younger children, with baby, toddler and junior zones and a café on site. Older children have separate options such as swimming, lessons and AquaDash. For a simple splash with little ones, wait until family swimming returns or choose another pool.
- Family swimming paused. As checked on 2 November 2026, the teaching pool is closed until at least mid-November and Family Fun Swimming is unavailable. There is no confirmed reopening date; check the live pool timetable before travelling.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- Activity and booking
- Clambers offers drop-in soft play with no advance booking. Family Fun Swimming must be booked ahead when available.Clambers information and prices
- Cost
- Swimming and soft play have separate prices. A 60-minute Clambers visit costs £6 Monday–Thursday or £6.50 Friday–Sunday for ages 1–2; ages 3–10 pay £9 or £9.50. Other ages and 90-minute sessions have separate rates. Card/contactless payment only.
- When to visit
- Clambers usually opens 9am–5pm; Wednesdays from 10am, Tuesdays general access ends at 3.30pm. All pools and the café close Wednesdays 9–10am for staff training.
- Parking
- Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh EH16 5BB. Free customer parking for up to three hours; register your vehicle inside the venue.
- Buggies and changing
- There are lifts, toilets, baby-changing facilities and a family changing area for the pool.
ParkingCafé or restaurantAccessible toiletsToiletsBaby changingPlay area
2 November 2026
Check pool timetable and closures (official)A little more detail
Make it work for your family
Clambers for younger children
Clambers is for ages 0–10, with a baby area for children up to 18 months and separate toddler and junior zones. Slides and an upper-storey football pitch give older children more to do, while babies have their own space.
Ordinary sessions are drop-in, with 60- and 90-minute options. Swimming and soft play have separate admission arrangements, so choose the session you want rather than assuming one payment covers both.
General access ends at 3.30pm on Tuesdays so staff can prepare for the 4–5pm ASN soft-play session. Check that session’s arrangements with the venue if it would suit your child.
Swimming and older children
The venue has main, teaching and diving pools, but opening hours do not mean every pool or family activity is available. While the teaching pool is closed, 50-metre swimming in the main pool is also unavailable. Competitions and maintenance can change the timetable.
When Family Fun Swimming returns, book in advance and check the adult-to-child ratios for your children’s ages. A casual swim, Family Fun session, lesson and AquaDash are different activities; check the rules for the one you choose.
Family Fun booking and supervision rulesAquaDash is a separate, pre-booked inflatable course on the water for ages six and over. Children aged 6–8 need an adult taking part, with one adult for every two children; ages nine and over can attend without a parent or guardian. Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in; missing the safety briefing means you cannot take part.
AquaDash rules and bookingSwimming and diving coaching, holiday camps and junior gym access from S1 give older children further options. Check the programme and any induction or booking requirements for the activity you want.
Parking, access and a café break
The upper car park is reserved for Blue Badge holders and parents with young children. Other visitors should use the larger lower car park, reached from Holyrood Park Road through the shared entrance with Edinburgh University.
Café Refresh serves hot and cold food, drinks and snacks. Packed-lunch arrangements are not confirmed; ask the venue if you plan to bring your own meal.
Alongside the lifts and family changing facilities, accessible provision includes adapted toilets, changing and showers, a pool hoist, Poolpod and waterproof wheelchairs. Contact the venue before travelling if you need a particular transfer aid or access arrangement.
Read the venue’s accessibility informationMap data credit
Overture Maps Foundation; data from meta. Licence texts and applicable Foursquare notices must accompany redistributed data.
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