Watertots at Methodist College Belfast
Watertots runs independent lessons for children over three at Methodist College's pool on Malone Road, split into beginner through advanced groups, at £12 a lesson.
Who it suits
Parents in south Belfast whose child is past the parent-in-the-water stage and wants a straightforward beginner-to-advanced ladder close to Queen's and the City Hospital.
Why it stands out
- £12 a lesson, which you can pay in two instalments across the term instead of all at once
- Classes here run on Tuesday evenings and Saturdays for children over three, split into beginner, advanced beginner, intermediate and advanced groups
- New starters are assessed poolside on their first visit and placed by ability rather than age alone
- Watertots says it tries to keep the same teacher with your child every week rather than rotating staff
- Free parking within the college grounds, opposite the Ulster Museum on Malone Road
Our verdict
Twelve pounds a lesson with no big upfront membership fee is a fair deal for a school that has been running in Belfast for over two decades, and the poolside assessment is a sensible way to place a child rather than guessing from their age. Do not book here for a baby or toddler who still needs you in the water, because Methodist College only runs the independent, over-three classes, not the parent and child sessions Watertots offers at its other sites. Do not expect a published class size or a stated waiting list either, since neither appears anywhere on the school's own site and you will need to ask when you call.
What it is
Watertots is one of Belfast’s longer-running independent swim schools, and Methodist College is one of six pools it uses across the city. At this venue the classes are for children over three who no longer need a parent in the water, run on Tuesday evenings and Saturdays and split into beginner, advanced beginner, intermediate and advanced groups rather than a single mixed-ability session.
Who should book
This suits a family in south or central Belfast with a child who has already had some pool time, whether that is a Watertots parent and child class elsewhere or lessons somewhere else entirely, and now wants a structured next step. The school assesses every new starter poolside on their first visit rather than slotting them in by age, which matters if your child is a confident three year old or a cautious six year old. Anyone still wanting to get in the water with their child needs a different Watertots venue, since Methodist College does not run the parent and child stages.
What stands out
The price is plain: £12 a lesson, and you can split payment into two instalments across the term instead of paying the whole block upfront. Watertots also commits to keeping the same teacher with a child from week to week where it can, which is a small thing that matters when a nervous swimmer has to trust an adult in the pool. The venue itself is easy to get to, with free parking inside the college grounds on Malone Road, directly opposite the Ulster Museum.
The verdict
For a school with over twenty years in Belfast, Watertots keeps things simple: one clear price, a poolside assessment instead of an age cut-off, and a stated aim of teacher consistency. What it does not do at Methodist College is publish a class size or a waiting list, so if either matters to you, ask before you book rather than assuming. It is also the wrong venue if your child still needs you beside them in the pool, since that stage runs at Watertots’ other Belfast sites, not here.