Basingstoke Aquadrome — Attraction in Basingstoke and Deane

Despite a terrible website, poor reviews, no answer when calling the leisure centre and no promised ringback received, we risked it anyway during half term and had fun.

If the staff are too busy to answer the phone I recommend you update the answerphone message and put a daily (dated) recorded message of what is open / closed, fully booked, etc..

On entry the whole place is semi open plan with clean changing cubicles and lockers with showers (warm and cold spells) which leads on to the first 20m pool. Non swimmers can sit and watch on the benches poolside here. It's a 1m deep swimming pool which was clean and a good temperature for learning to swim and play. There is a 25m lane pool next door which I didn't try. Then there was an older area I think they call the lagoon which has a lazy river which kept you moving. It is a little dilapidated but clean and works, it's only the tiles and concrete walls which are showing their age. There were lifeguards surveying from check points all around (and not incessantly blowing whistles or warning about behaviour). The water cannons here are all a bit tired. The spa jacuzzi looked old and was closed off. It's a bit forlorn really but other areas make up for it.

The lagoon area is the bottom of the three flumes or water slides, two of which you use with single inflatable rings; collect them at the bottom and walk up the staircase to the common jumping off point. The yellow water slide is open for all over 1.1m tall and fun but relatively easy snaking down. The blue slide restriction is a bit taller (1.2m I think) and here you slide up as well as down and through dark tunnels. The green slide is open only for competent swimmers (over 1.3m?) and drops you in to a deep pool in the middle of the lagoon. It's all a lot of fun and surprisingly at half term early afternoon wasn't too busy with little queues which was good as the staircase became a bit cold waiting there in October. There should be more signs explaining the procedure, even when we paid on arrival the receptionist presumed we were regulars and knew our way and it's the same inside you have to guess the way a bit. Like each slide has a different colour coded inflatable.

There is also a modern, but small, baby pool with cosy bath temperature water and lots of play things and cannons and a soft floor. The toilets are nearby and although small weren't busy (that's a worry!) and although not spotless wasn't dirty or smelly.

All in at £7 per adult and £5 for a child it was a good value afternoon with no time restrictions .. the slide was the highlight and perfect for a...

I booked adult swimming lessons for my partner as a gift and sorely regret it. The lessons were reasonably priced and Gil was a great instructor. However, it has been almost impossible to cancel the lessons now that we do not need them.

Basingstoke Aquadrome has outsourced their membership management to Serco (MoreSwimming) whom are unfit for service. MoreSwimming's account management page has no method for cancellation. If you ask the Aquadrome to cancel it they simply state "We can't handle that." And give you an email for Serco. Alternatively you can find an obscure contact information on the Aquadrome website.

Having emailed Serco (MoreSwimming) and explaining I want the account cancelled, I was told I couldn't close it because my email did not match the account. This was totally untrue as we never provided them another email address and I provided screenshots of activation emails, and the MoreSwimming account page to prove it is under my email, and the direct debit was from an account also in MY name.

They replied stating that I still could not close the account because the lessons were for my partner, and not myself. She cannot email them to cancel the lessons because the account is not linked to her email, it is linked to mine. It is completely ridiculous. Upon cancelling the direct debit with my bank suddenly the Aquadrome have taken in interest beyond "We cannot handle this." and left me a voicemail, but as always they only pick up the phone about 20% of the time.

2 weeks, 6 emails, 2 phone calls, a visit to the pool in person, and I'm still trying to cancel this membership. I don't know why there is not simply a button to cancel the membership like any modern service provider would be expected to supply in the 21st century. At the very least the staff at the Aquadrome should be able to handle this on client's behalf that would be a minimum of customer service. Therefore, I seriously warn anyone considering taking up a subscription with the Aquadrome until they revisit how they manage their memberships and improve the...

This is an appreciation post. The aquadrome are very good with people with disabilities. I am a personal impedance payment (PIP) member with autism, communication issues and dyspraxia. For PIP members they offer free lane swimming, swimming classes (aqua aerobics) & free lagoon session for myself and one other person attending as a “carer”. I am really really enjoying swimming and throughly appreciate the gesture.

The staff at the aquadrome are so lovely, patient and kind with me especially when I have trouble communicating. The only negative I would say, is a lot of people with disabilities/ autism like me who have communication difficulties makes it hard when “pip members” are required to quote their name on arrival to attend swimming. I can achieve this, but it makes it very challenging. I would prefer if we could have a token or something to scan without always having to speak to the staff for entrance. Despite this, as I said the staff are very patient and kind with me when I find this difficult. I used to hate lane swimming due to the crowds and anxiety about keeping up, and had a bad experience at the Basingstoke “better” sports centre. However, I love that the slow lane is extra wide which allows me to swim without having to worry about disturbing others. My only negative is sometimes children/ teens come into the lane swimming and mess around without actually swimming which disrupts the other members. I just wish others members knew about the “pip memberships and free activities” the Aquadrome offers.

Thank...