I like swimming in Hong Kong, because the public pools make it incredibly easy to do so. Morrison…read moreHill public swimming pool is one such pool. Located in Wan Chai, it's not the easiest pool to get to - it's a bit of a walk from the MTR, but then, nothing is really that far away Hong Kong, is it? Entry to the swimming pool is via cash or octopus card at the turnstile, at this moment it is HK$19. You also don't have to be a member of a club, or a Hong Kong resident, to enjoy using the pool. It really is totally public in the best sense of the word. The pool itself is 50m, and is fairly wide, so it has a number of lanes. At any given time, a number of these lanes may be rented out for classes, or club swimming, but there will always be a few lanes reserved for public "walk-in" swimmers. There's usually at least a fast lane and a slow lane, so you shouldn't get stuck behind some body who's technique is just a shade over drowning. Word of warning; in Hong Kong the definition of swimming fast seems to be a leisurely breaststroke. If you want to get any serious training done in a public pool, you may have to be a little bit obnoxious and swim past people, or you may be better off actually joining a club anyway. As well as the main pool, and there is a small children's training pool, and a toddler's pool. The other facilities at Morrison Hill pool are fairly rudimentary, there are two large changing rooms, one women's and one men's (obviously). They have toilet facilities and many shower cubicles with hot water, but no air conditioning, only giant fans that blast warm air around the changing rooms. If you get a sweat on when you're swimming, expect to be sweating all the way back home or to the office. The pool offers viewing facilities for competitions, and of course this can be used at any time by parents or those not wanting to swim. Also, life guards are on duty during the sessions. Working out of the swim times can be a little bit confusing, depending on cleaning days and public holidays, but the website is kept up to date, so do a quick check to make sure that you are going on a day where there is actually some swimming available. Fortunately, the pool is indoor, so there is no change in timings between Winter and Summer.

Wow was I pleasantly surprised with this facility!…read more I would never really imagine a public swimming pool in HK to be as good as this. It was super clean, and the people that were there were there to swim. It was not overcrowded like you'd imagine it would be on a Sunday. There is a 50m standard pool that's covered, and a smaller outdoor pool that seemed popular with the children and families. The 50m pool goes up to 1.9m deep. The lockers, changing and shower areas are also very clean and relatively dry. Would definitely go back if I need a swim fix.

My experience with Stanford Swimming School, specifically at the International French School in…read moreTKO, was very poor. After agreeing with them to keep my son enrolled through the winter - with the school pressing us to do so - the school failed to follow up on their part of the bargain, specifically around the availability of a coach my son particularly liked. We decided to withdraw him from the class and the school agreed to give us a refund for the lessons he did not attend. However since December we have not seen any of the promised money and the School admin keep coming up with excuses implying that the payment is being processed. Which is obviously not true. I have lost all my trust in them and definitely do not recommend anyone to use their service.

Run by the Stanford Swimming Club, there is a little-known swimming pool out in Pok Fu Lam, in the…read morebasement of a local shopping centre called Chi Fu Landmark. I say a little unknown, as it seems to only be frequented by dive clubs, children's swimming classes, and a handful of local residents who are obviously in the know. However, it is a real gem of a swimming pool. Unlike appearances (seemingly to be only for club and class swimming), the pool is in fact open to the public, with a membership of course. Unlike many of the HK public pools, as it is a privately run business, the facilities are clean and well kept. The pool is 25m long, and nearly as wide. Deepest is 2.3m, with shallow areas at both ends. The pool is kept nicely warm, with the dry area suitable air conditioned. The pool itself is in lanes, so even when there are classes, there is usually somewhere for individual swimming. There are lockers (HKD20 refundable deposit), hot showers, but no vending machines or water fountains. There is a food court and a Park n Shop just outside in the Chi Fu Landmark, so snacks and drinks are readily available. Membership starts at HKD280pcm, with a HKD28 per swim. Their website is now in English, but seems to only cover the classes service.