Victoria Embankment Paddling Pool

Work has begun in earnest with our contracting partners now on site at the Victoria Embankment Paddling Pool meaning that future generations of Nottingham children will soon benefit from the newly designed scheme that will be a modern interpretation of the traditional water play previously enjoyed by many.  

The restoration is due to be completed towards the end of the year with opening scheduled in time for the early May Bank Holiday in 2025.  

The Paddling Pool, located adjacent to the Victoria Embankment Memorial Gardens which has also benefited from a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, fell into disrepair and has not been in use since before the pandemic.  

Built in 1928, the pool is an important part of Nottingham’s cultural heritage with nearly 100 years of cherished memories of happy days spent playing in the water overlooking the River Trent. 

We conducted extensive community engagement to understand the importance of the facility and despite many challenges has worked hard to come up with a sustainable, creative and affordable design that will be enjoyed for years to come. 

The project is being funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, Section 106 contributions and government levelling up monies.  

Overview of the design

• Consultations asked for a mixture of traditional paddling pool and modern water play elements which this design aims to provide.
• The original fence will remain for security and safety around the pool.
• The design is sympathetic to the original paddling pool heritage by using the existing footprint and providing contrast paving to celebrate the original line of the paddling pool.

View 1 - A range of jets heights and strengths will be used allowing a range of ages to play on the splash pad. 

View 2 - The splash pad will provide a modern water play facility with a range of water jets and tunnels. This facility has level entry and will be accessible to those with additional mobility needs. 

View 3 - The original beach entry to the paddling pool will be reused to allow inclusive access to the pool area. The original filling feature will be removed to open up this end of the pool and replaced with a line of spouts for more options to play.