Glendale's best swimming option for children is British Swim School at 24 Hour Fitness on Brand Blvd — a family-run franchise with outstanding reviews for teaching toddlers to love water. The pool at 24 Hour Fitness is convenient for members and parking is easy via the 24HF lot. Pacific Community Pool (Glendale Aquatics) on Pacific Ave is a city-run pool with structured community swim programmes. Glassell Pool in nearby Glassell Park offers LA Parks-operated public swimming. Note: Citywide Aquatics Headquarters on Chevy Chase Dr is an administrative office — not an actual pool.
💡 British Swim School Glendale is owner-run by Arlene, who personally gets to know each child. Multiple parents cite this personal attention from the owners (Doug and Arlene) as a differentiator from larger swim chains. Small class sizes mean children never have more than 3 classmates, and many eventually get 1:1 sessions as they advance.
The 5 swimming studios, ranked
Ordered by overall rating and review volume
01
British Swim School at 24 Hour Fitness - Glendale
450 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203, USA · Kids from 6 months to teens · Water safety focus · Toddler swimming · Fear-of-water programme · ★ 5.0 (24 reviews)
British Swim School Glendale is the top-rated swim school in the area, run by owners Doug and Arlene who personally know each enrolled child. Instructors Anthony, Carly, Seth, Mai, and Cai are named across reviews — all praised for patience with young children, playful teaching style, and genuine investment in each child's progress. One parent enrolled their son at age 2; by 3 he loved the water. Another parent's child slipped into a pool and naturally floated back — crediting BSS technique. Early morning classes run busy; later classes are more relaxed. Classes run Wed 2–5pm and Sat 9am–2:15pm.
Parents love
instructors Anthony, Carly, Seth, Mai, Cai all praisedowners Doug and Arlene know every child personallyclass sizes max 3 kids, often 1:1child slipped into pool and floated naturally — real technique retentiontoddlers enrolled from 18 months onwardparking easy via 24HF lot
Watch out for
early morning classes busier — prefer later slots
02
Pacific Community Pool
509 S Pacific Ave, Glendale, CA 91204, USA · City-run pool · Kids and adult swim lessons · Community swim programmes · Glendale Aquatics affiliated · ★ 4.6 (78 reviews)
Pacific Community Pool is run by Glendale Aquatics and is a well-regarded city pool. Reviewers call it 'a great little pool' though it can be crowded and hours are limited compared to what many parents want — one reviewer noted the hours 'should be from morning to evening.' Structured group lessons for children and adults are offered through the Glendale Aquatics programme. Open Mon–Sun with extended weekday hours.
Parents love
well-run city poolGlendale Aquatics structured programmesgood community facility
Watch out for
can get crowdedpool hours limited — morning access not always availablelimited hours compared to private options
recur
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3704 Verdugo Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90065, USA · LA Parks public pool · Year-round pool · Swim lessons and lap swim · Glassell Park / near Glendale · ★ 4.4 (201 reviews)
Glassell Pool in Glassell Park (near Glendale) is an LA Parks public pool with 201 reviews. Reviewers note it lacks underwater pool lights — a concern for evening swim team training — and the facilities are somewhat dated ('slightly funky, but par for the course for LA public parks'). For general lap swimming and community access it is described as 'nice.' LA Parks offers structured lessons; check the LA Parks schedule for children's class availability.
Parents love
accessible LA Parks public poolnice for lap swimmingaffordable community option
Watch out for
no underwater lights — unsuitable for evening swim teamfacilities datedpool reportedly not always heated
04
24 Hour Fitness
450 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203, USA · Adult fitness gym with pool · British Swim School uses this pool for lessons · Contact BSS at (818) 453-6510 for children's lessons · ★ 4.3 (1,360 reviews)
The 24 Hour Fitness Glendale Super Sport on Brand Blvd shares its address with British Swim School — but the gym itself is an adult fitness facility, not a swim school. The pool here is used by British Swim School for lessons during scheduled hours. If your goal is swim lessons for children, contact British Swim School at (818) 453-6510 directly. 24HF itself is reviewed positively for equipment quality and management improvements.
Cost: 24HF membership required for gym access; BSS lessons are separate
⚠ 24HF membership or guest day pass
Parents love
well-maintained equipmentfriendly staff post-management change20-year member loyalty
Watch out for
gym pool is for adult fitness — children's lessons via British Swim School onlynot a standalone swim school
05
Citywide Aquatics Headquarters
3900 Chevy Chase Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90039, USA · Administrative office — NOT a swimming pool · Visit laparks.org/aquatics for actual pools · ★ 3.3 (14 reviews)
Citywide Aquatics Headquarters is an administrative office for LA Parks' aquatics division — not a swimming pool. Multiple reviewers have flagged this confusion, noting the Google listing incorrectly suggests a pool is present. One reviewer wrote: 'I've wondered for a long time why this place continues to say there's an actual swimming pool there.' Do not visit this address expecting to swim. Use laparks.org/aquatics to find actual LA Parks pools in the area.
Watch out for
NOT A POOL — administrative office onlyGoogle listing misleadingno swimming facility at this address
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Five questions to ask before you enrol
Based on recurring patterns across Glendale swimming reviews
01
At what age does British Swim School Glendale start accepting children for lessons?
02
What are the maximum and typical class sizes at British Swim School?
03
Does Pacific Community Pool offer Saturday morning children's swim lessons?
04
Can non-24HF members attend British Swim School lessons at the Glendale location?
05
Does British Swim School Glendale offer a trial class before committing to monthly enrolment?
Frequently asked questions
Which swimming class in Glendale is best for toddlers aged 1–3 years?
Recur's review of swimming classes in Glendale found that British Swim School at 24 Hour Fitness on Brand Blvd is the outstanding choice for toddlers. One parent enrolled their son starting at 18 months; by age 3 he loved the water. Another parent's toddler demonstrated natural floating reflexes after slipping into a pool — real safety retention from the British Swim School method. Owners Doug and Arlene personally know every enrolled child, which is unusual and valued by parents. Classes for toddlers run Wed 2–5pm and Sat 9am–2:15pm.
Is there a public swimming pool in Glendale with structured kids' lessons?
Recur's review of swimming classes in Glendale found that Pacific Community Pool on Pacific Ave, run by Glendale Aquatics, offers city-sponsored structured swim lessons for children and adults. It is open six days a week with morning and evening sessions. Glassell Pool in Glassell Park is a second LA Parks option nearby. Both are more affordable than private swim schools. Note: Citywide Aquatics Headquarters on Chevy Chase Drive is an administrative office — not a pool — despite appearing in search results.
Who are the instructors at British Swim School Glendale and how good are they?
Recur's review of swimming classes in Glendale found that British Swim School Glendale has instructors Anthony, Carly, Seth, Mai, and Cai — all praised across multiple reviews. Anthony and Carly are most frequently named. One parent with a 2-year-old cited all instructors as 'patient and playful even on days when the kiddo decided he did not want to get in the water.' Another parent's daughter went from terrified to swimming confidently in 4 months. The school is owner-operated by Arlene and Doug, who are present and hands-on.
Is Citywide Aquatics Headquarters in Glendale a real swimming pool?
Recur's review of swimming in Glendale found that Citywide Aquatics Headquarters at 3900 Chevy Chase Dr, Los Angeles, is not a swimming pool — it is an administrative office for LA Parks' aquatics department. Multiple Google reviewers have flagged this confusion. One reviewer specifically wrote that the listing 'continues to say there's a swimming pool there' but there is none. Families should use laparks.org/aquatics to find actual LA Parks pools, or head to Pacific Community Pool on Pacific Ave in Glendale.