The Pools of London – Aquatics and the Olympics since 1908

Victorian Britain led the world in swimming pool design, leading in 1908 to the first purpose-built Olympic pool, at White City. In 1948 the Empire Pool at Wembley provided the Olympics with its first ever indoor aquatic venue. Dr Ian Gordon looks back at how pool design has evolved, while pool designer Keith Ashton from S&P Architects discusses the evolution of the spectacular 2012 Aquatic Centre at Stratford.