Can adults learn to swim in Barnet?

Yes. We offer private 1-to-1 swimming lessons for adults at our heated pool in Arkley, Barnet EN5. We specialise in complete beginners, nervous adults and those who have tried group lessons without success.

How long does it take to learn to swim in Barnet?

Most adult beginners at our Barnet pool can swim 25 metres without stopping within 6–10 private lessons. Full independent swimming with technique typically takes 10–20 lessons depending on starting point.

Do you offer learn-to-swim lessons for children in Barnet?

Yes. We teach children from age 3 at our private Arkley pool. All lessons are 1-to-1. Children typically learn to swim faster with individual coaching than in group lessons.

Where can I learn to swim privately in Barnet?

Our private 10-metre pool in Arkley, Barnet EN5 is available exclusively for 1-to-1 swimming lessons. It is warm, calm, and private — no lanes, no public, no shared changing. A short drive from Barnet, Whetstone and East Barnet.

ASA / STA Qualified

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7 Days a Week

4.9 Stars · 202 Reviews

Arkley, Barnet & North London

Learn to Swim — Arkley, Barnet EN5

Learn to Swim
in Barnet.
At Your Pace.

Private swimming lessons in a small, warm pool in Arkley, Barnet — with a shallow end to start from and a deep end to build towards. Entirely at your pace, with a patient, qualified teacher who has worked with nervous swimmers, SEN learners and older adults for over 30 years.

⚡ Get In Touch Not Sure? Take the 30-Sec Quiz

Who This Is For

Not Every Learner Fits the Same Mould

Group lessons are built around an average. They don't account for anxiety, additional needs or simply a learner who moves at a different pace. This does.

Nervous & anxious swimmers

Fear of water is real and common. Brian builds confidence gradually — nothing is rushed, nothing is forced.

SEN learners

Private lessons remove the noise and unpredictability of a group — giving SEN learners the consistency they need.

Older adults

A warm, private pool with no crowded lanes or judgement — just steady, supported progress at your pace.

Heated pool Shallow & deep end Private — just you & Brian Arkley, Barnet EN5

Private swimming lessons at Arkley pool, Barnet

What We Cover

Built Around You, Not the Class

90 Minutes
per session

Every lesson is planned around where you are and what you need — not a fixed syllabus. Progress is led entirely by your comfort level, at every stage. Below are the areas typically covered, in whatever order makes sense for you.

Water confidence & breathing

Entry, floating, breath control and buoyancy — the foundations everything else is built on. We take as long as needed to make these feel natural.

Treading water & the deep end

A vital life skill that requires genuine depth to learn properly. Brian introduces this gradually using the pool's shallow-to-deep transition — never suddenly, never before you're ready.

Front crawl & breaststroke

The two strokes most learners want to master — built from scratch at a pace that suits the individual, with technique corrected as it develops.

The most important thing I do in a first session is listen. Everyone who comes through that gate has a different relationship with water — a different history, a different fear, a different goal. The lesson plan follows the person, not the other way around.

Brian FitzGerald — Swimming Class UK

How It Works

From First Lesson to Independent Swimmer

Book Online

Choose your session and pay securely online. Brian will confirm your time within 24 hours.

Session 1 — No Assumptions

Brian starts by understanding where you are and what matters most to you. No tests, no expectations — just a calm, honest starting point.

Lessons at Your Pace

Each 90-minute lesson builds on the last. Brian adjusts the plan to suit you — there's no fixed programme to keep up with.

Confidence That Lasts

Most learners are surprised how quickly things shift when the environment is right. Genuine progress, at a pace that actually sticks.

What Clients Say

Learners We've Helped Find Their Feet

★★★★★

I started in October 2015..... Afraid of the water and drowning. But, Steven and Brian were fantastic.... Helped me overcome the fear and by lesson 2, I was swimming on my own.

Roksana

Trustpilot

★★★★★

I've never been able to take my feet off the bottom let alone swim. As a 65 year old, I decided to see if I could do it and booked some lessons with Swimmingclass. After 12 lessons I can actually do it.

Josephine B.

Trustpilot

★★★★★

For the love of the water I wanted to be able to move in it. Stephen one of the trusted instructors gave me the drive to learn the basic never looked back since.

Tony

Trustpilot

Pricing

Straightforward 1-to-1 Coaching

Private 1-to-1 lesson at our Barnet pool. No packages, no contracts.

Single Session

Private Swimming Lesson

90-minute private 1-to-1 lesson
Small heated pool, Arkley, Barnet EN5
Shallow and deep end available
Nervous swimmers, SEN and older adults welcome
Same teacher, every session

⚡ Get In Touch

Not sure if this is right for you? take the 30-second quiz →

Common Questions

Learn to Swim FAQ

Yes — and you're not alone. Brian has worked with many learners who were genuinely afraid before their first lesson. Nothing is ever rushed or forced. Lessons start from wherever feels manageable — even if that means the first session is just getting comfortable standing in the shallow end. That's a real and valid starting point.

Yes. Brian has worked with SEN learners of various ages and needs over 30 years. The private pool environment — calm, consistent, free from group noise and unpredictability — is particularly well suited to SEN teaching. If you'd like to discuss your child's specific needs before booking, the enquiry form is the best way to start that conversation.

For nervous learners, the shallow end is essential — having standing depth gives you control and security that makes everything less frightening. But learning to tread water and swim out of depth is an important goal for most people, and having the deep end in the same pool means that progression happens naturally, without being moved to a new or unfamiliar environment at a critical moment.

Absolutely. Swimming is one of the best low-impact activities for older adults and Brian has taught many learners in their 60s, 70s and beyond. The pool is warm, the environment is private and relaxed, and there is no pressure to move at anyone else's pace. If you have specific mobility considerations, mention them when you get in touch and Brian will work around them.

It depends entirely on your starting point and your goal. Some learners progress quickly once the right environment removes the anxiety; others take longer and that's fine. Brian will give you an honest, individual assessment after your first session — no pressure to commit to anything beyond that.

The pool is located in Arkley, Barnet EN5. The exact address is confirmed on booking. It's easily reachable from Barnet, Finchley, Whetstone, Edgware, East Barnet, Hadley Wood and across North London and Hertfordshire.

Ready When You Are