Summer vibes are officially hitting London early, and honestly, we couldn’t be more ready. The City of London just dropped some seriously good news for anyone who’s been desperately waiting to trade their winter coat for swimwear.

Two of our beloved outdoor pools are jumping the gun on summer 2025, and we’re absolutely living for this spontaneous splash of excitement. Gibbons outdoor pool has already thrown open its gates, while Byron outdoor pool is gearing up for its grand reopening this Saturday, June 7.

This isn’t just your typical “pools are opening” announcement either. These early birds are getting the full treatment with drop-in programs ready to roll from day one. Whether you’re someone who’s been counting down the days until you can do proper laps again, or you’re just desperate to float around and pretend you’re on vacation, both pools have you covered.

The city’s being pretty strategic about this whole thing too. While Gibbons and Byron are giving us that early summer preview, the rest of London’s outdoor pool squad will join the party starting Saturday, June 28. That’s when all outdoor pools across the city officially kick off their seven-days-a-week summer schedule.

And let’s talk about what’s actually available at these aquatic havens. We’re getting the works: drop-in recreational swims for those casual floating sessions, lane swimming for the serious athletes among us, aquafit classes for anyone wanting to make exercise feel less like torture, and parent and tot swim sessions for the little ones who are basically part fish anyway.

The best part? No registration drama. You can literally just show up and dive in. The city’s made it refreshingly simple – check the schedules on london.ca/pools for hours and program details, then just roll up when it works for you.

If you’re more of a learn-as-you-go type, there are still spots available for outdoor learn to swim programs and aquatic leadership programs. Everything’s viewable through the Play Your Way online system, which honestly sounds way more organized than most of our summer plans.

For families keeping an eye on the budget, the city’s Play Your Way Fund is still offering financial support for recreation programs. Once you’re approved, you get access to funding for up to 12 months, with a maximum of $300 per person. It’s one of those programs that actually makes sense and helps people access the good stuff.

While we’re talking about water-based summer fun, let’s not forget that the city’s spray pads have been quietly doing their thing since earlier this month. These push-button activated water play areas are running daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., which is basically perfect for anyone who wants the pool experience without the actual swimming commitment.

Wading pools are also joining the summer party by Saturday, June 28. These free-to-use spots always have an aquatic attendant on site, which means parents can actually relax for five seconds while their kids splash around safely.

The timing of this early opening feels pretty perfect, considering we’ve all been staring at grey skies for what feels like approximately 47 years. Getting Gibbons and Byron ready ahead of schedule shows the city’s picking up on the collective desire to just get summer started already.

All the practical details – locations, program dates, and pricing – are available at london.ca/aquatics, because apparently the city’s website game is stronger than most of our organizational skills.