St James Pool
Blackfriars Street PE30 1NN, run by Alive West Norfolk for the borough council. Six lanes, open since 1975, and the third most reviewed place on this register at 339 Google reviews, rated 4.2.
Hours are 06:00 to 21:30 Monday to Friday, 07:00 to 17:00 on Saturday and 08:00 to 20:00 on Sunday, so an early length before work is the obvious use and the one the hours are built for. It is a two minute walk from the middle of town, which makes it the only venue on this register you would sensibly reach without a car.
Alive sells one membership across its four venues at £36 a month on a twelve month contract, £40 rolling or £432 a year upfront, with a £20 start up fee. Pay as you go swim prices are not published in this register, so ring the centre.
Pools and leisure centres in King’s Lynn
St James Swimming Pool
Six lanes on Blackfriars Street since 1975, 339 reviews, and a replacement on the table.
Gymnasium (LynnSport)
The gym floor inside Alive Lynnsport, sharing a site with the track and climbing wall.
The replacement, and why it matters
This is the live question in West Norfolk leisure, and it is worth understanding before you commit to anything long term.
The council approved design and feasibility work on 31 July 2025. By 17 December 2025 the scheme had changed into a standalone eight lane, 25 metre pool at Lynnsport with a learner pool and a splash pad, with padel courts and an Adapted Sports Hub under consideration, and the existing Lynnsport modernised in phases. St James, open since 1975, is described as being at the end of its economic life and would be replaced.
Capital borrowing of around £40 million is involved. The bowls club has objected. No final decision has been made and no opening date exists. If your swimming depends on St James, that is the state of play, not a rumour.
Other water within half an hour
- Alive Downham, Downham Market, on the same Alive membership. About 20 minutes south, or 14 minutes by train.
- Alive Oasis, Hunstanton, also on the same membership. About 25 minutes north on the A149.
- The Old Gym Limited, Downham Road, listed as a swimming pool, 4.3 from 57 reviews.
- Rudham Court Leisure, Lynn Road, an indoor pool rated 4.9 from ten reviews, the highest rated water on the register.
Lynnsport itself carries a pool tag on its gym listing. The out of town list is here.
Common questions
Where can I swim in King’s Lynn?
St James Pool on Blackfriars Street, six lanes, run by Alive West Norfolk. It opens at 06:00 Monday to Friday, 07:00 on Saturday and 08:00 on Sunday.
Is there a 50m pool in King’s Lynn?
No. St James has six lanes, and the pool proposed for Lynnsport would be eight lanes at 25 metres.
Is St James Pool closing?
No decision has been made. The council's current plan would replace it with a new pool at Lynnsport, but the scheme is unfunded to the tune of about £40 million of borrowing and has drawn objections.
What does swimming cost?
Alive membership runs £36 a month on a twelve month contract, £40 rolling or £432 a year upfront, plus a £20 start up fee, across all four centres. Pay as you go prices are not published here.
Are there pools near King’s Lynn?
Alive Downham and Alive Oasis in Hunstanton sit on the same membership. The Old Gym Limited on Downham Road and Rudham Court Leisure on Lynn Road are both listed as pools.