LearnToSWIM Anmeldelser 

I stumbled across LearnToSwim because I want to do an Ironman, but I can’t do front crawl properly. The only swimming lessons I’ve had were group lessons at primary school in the UK, which didn’t really focus on my needs as an individual.

I love that LearnToSwim offers a 20 minute taster session. I attended because I was sceptical of all the 5 star reviews, and I’m so glad I did, as I was taught so much in that lesson alone! I decided to book some 60 minute sessions with Mark following the taster.

I’ve had two classes so far and they’ve been incredible! I told Mark my goal, and he’s helping me work towards it (like a fairy godmother, except he’ll hand you flippers instead of a glass slipper 😂)! My confidence with front crawl has grown so much, and I never thought I’d be able to see this much progress so quickly. Mark is so engaging that everything he says really does sink in! The lesson is fun, and it’s comparable to hanging out with a friend, except you’re developing a lifelong skill.

I can’t recommend LearnToSwim enough. If you’re thinking about learning to swim or improving your swimming skills, I’d definitely recommend giving the 20 minute taster a try 😊

Mark and Sam are both excellent teachers, they have improved my swimming beyond anything I ever thought I'd be able to do! Amazing!!

I've had 3 lessons with Mark so far and I've already improved so much. I was a beginner swimmer and could swim a little before, but my technique definitely wasn't there. After just 3 lessons, I already feel a lot more confident in the water and much more aware of my form.

What I really like about Mark is that he builds a proper foundation and doesn't just teach you what to do, but also explains why. He remembers what was covered in previous lessons and sends notes afterwards, so every lesson builds on the last one. He's really patient, encouraging and knowledgeable, but also very easy to talk to and makes the lessons genuinely enjoyable. I also like that he teaches the philosophy behind swimming, with a few life lessons thrown in between :)

I've got another 6 lessons booked and will definitely be booking more. I've already been telling my friends about Mark and they want to try his lessons too - although at this rate, I might have to stop recommending him before he gets fully booked!

I had lessons with Mark and Manal, they tailored the lessons according to my needs and covered everything, including some theory, which is pretty cool. Highly recommended

I’ve been learning to swim with Mark for a while now and have made great progress since starting lessons with him.

He’s patient, explains things clearly, and creates a relaxed and fun environment that makes learning as an adult feel a lot less intimidating. As someone who’s autistic, I especially appreciate his calm, supportive and honest teaching style.

I feel much more confident in the water now and would definitely recommend LearnToSWIM to anyone looking to learn swimming as an adult!

I have been having lessons with Sam for 3 years as part of my rehab after major spinal surgery. Though at times I have been a slow learner , great teaching and well judged balance of empathy and direction have had great results . I am even racing my grandchildren in the pool again !

Had my first lesson with Sam. Coming from a place of trauma as a kid, to now being a fully grown man who hasn’t touched a pool for 20 years, I was really nervous. To say the least.

I could NEVER have imagined I’d be floating by myself by the end of the lesson. I got into the pool anxious, but Sam built a lot of trust with me and got me comfortable and fully aware of all the sensations and worries.

If it were not for Sam, I’d have not made that huge leap in faith and now find myself really excited about my upcoming lessons. If you’re nervous, don’t be. Sam is patient, incredibly skilled and knowledgeable on swimmer psychology. It’s no pressure and all reward. I really recommend anyone of any walk of life to give this a go. Highly recommended!

Thank you Sam. I’m still surprised I got this far in just one lesson, can’t wait to get my feet wet again.

I’ve taken a few lessons with Mark now and can already feel a noticeable improvement in my technique and confidence in the water. The lessons are clearly well prepared for and structured, and we make good progress each time. Would 100% recommend

Being in my 40s and having attempted to learn to swim a couple of times over the last few years, I spent time trying to find a good coach with good reviews who could help me get through old thought patterns from bad experiences and onto being a swimmer. Mark @ learn to swim had excellent reviews and so I gave it a chance but thought could he really be as good as the reviews say?

Pleased to say that Mark so far has exceeded expectations - he is not really like any teacher I’ve had before - time spent in the pool doesn’t feel like a lesson and I look fwd to sessions together. Mark has a way to put students at ease but at the same time a strong focus on end goals with theory and practical learning (and it helps he is IN the pool with you). I am still on my journey but I feel sure I will hit my swimming goals with Mark. I think I may have attempted lessons 3 times before in various set ups - group classes, local coaches, school. The one on one is money well spent if you have a coach like Mark. Recommended.

I've just completed five lessons with Mark at LearnToSWIM, and I'm so pleased that I chose him based on the positive reviews. He has been patient, professional and really encouraging from the start.

Mark has a great way of explaining things so they actually make sense in the water, and he takes the time to focus on the details that makes it easy for me to understand. I’ve already built much more confidence and feel that I’m making genuine progress with every lesson.

What stands out most is how supportive and tailored the lessons have been. They were never rushed, never generic, and always constructive. If you are nervous about learning to swim or want a teacher who is skilled, motivating and easy to learn from, I would highly recommend Mark and LearnToSWIM.

Completed five classes so far as a total beginner, and the experience is really positive. Mark does an excellent job focusing on water fundamentals, which is exactly what I needed to overcome confidence issues. He is clearly very knowledgeable and explain techniques in a way that is memorable and easy to understand. Before moving on to more advanced skills, he prioritised on the basics of floating/breathing/body position. The learning process is structured, with notes from each session.
Give it go. You won’t regret it.

Some coaches teach technique. Mark and the Learn to Swim team rewires how you think about water entirely.

I arrived at my first session carrying years of anxiety -the kind that had kept me from ever seriously trying to swim. I wasn't just nervous. I was convinced this wasn't something I was capable of. Within an hour, that belief was gone.

The structure is what sets Mark apart. Every lesson is prepared in advance with clear goals, notes, and a solid theoretical foundation. Sessions include practical demonstrations, best-in-class swimmer examples, videos, and a knowledge base you can actually draw on. You leave each class with something concrete - not just time in the pool.

The guidance is practical, structured, and genuinely empowering. And throughout it all, the encouragement is constant and sincere.

If you're hesitant, anxious, or convinced that swimming simply "isn't for you" - this is exactly where to start.

I’m 32 and never quite learned how to swim so wanted to finally do it as a New Year’s resolution. Reading reviews for this swim school, and the long list of rave testimonials about Mark, I wondered, could this guy be the real deal? Let me tell you, from the moment my partner and I entered the pool (2 can learn for the price of 1 FYI!) we felt so comfortable! We genuinely look forward to our lessons each week and after just a few lessons already feel a lot more confident in the pool. I’ve already recommended Mark’s lessons to friends and if you’re reading this, still on the fence about taking up lessons - you should definitely take the plunge!

Some more practical bits - the website FAQs are pretty clear but all you need to get started are swimmers, goggles 😎 and posi attitude

I had my swimming classes with Alejandra. She is a great teacher, is patient, and provides you with ideas to improve swimming. I highly recommend her to have your lessons.

I have been learning to swim with Learn to Swim for just over a month now, at their London Bridge venue in Fitness First. Mark is an amazing instructor with an incredible gift for teaching. I am learning to swim in my 60’s, in the recent past I have found it quite challenging, as I am not confident and quite slow to embrace the techniques. Mark has a patient and caring approach, he really tunes into your needs, which, in turn, helps you to build up your confidence, in each sequence, which is broken down into manageable steps. The tutors remain in the pool with you at all times. The sessions are not just practical: Mark uses a pool side whiteboard to help consolidate each practical step. The feedback is motivating: Mark sends inspiring clips, the theory steps from the whiteboard and at times filming you swimming, for someone who doesn’t have a great degree of self awareness in the water, this is invaluable.

Fitness First is a very nice venue: the staff are friendly; they speak highly of the swimming instructors; and all areas are very clean and well maintained by their ever present friendly cleaning team.

I am beginning to feel myself progress: I feel nurtured. This is a wonderful learning establishment. I highly recommend it.

Thank you Mark.

Sam is a truly exceptional teacher with a remarkable talent for guiding students. Each week, he carefully evaluates my progress and pinpoints exactly what I need to work on to improve.

Sam always offers thoughtful and motivating feedback and thanks to his guidance, I feel real progress with every lesson. I genuinely look forward to practicing and to returning for the next session.

On top of his technical skills, Sam makes my swimming lessons very enjoyable. His upbeat and engaging personality creates a fun, positive atmosphere. I’m so thankful for the confidence I’m building in the water and couldn’t imagine a better teacher. I highly recommend him!

I am currently having swimming lessons with Mark. At the age of nearly 61 I decided it’s time to overcome my fear of water. The lessons with Mark are fun. He is kind, patient, very knowledgeable and an extremely amazing teacher. I actually look forward to my lesson each week. Mark has taught me breathing techniques, has got me floating with my face down in the water, floating on my back and today I was using snorkling equipment after just a few lessons. I have a permanent smile on my face today as feeling quite proud of myself !!

I thoroughly recommend swimming lessons with Mark. He is calm, patient, kind, quite funny and teaches you to overcome your fears.

The venue of the pool at Fitness First is easy to get to. I travel one hour to get to the venue and only because of Marks 5* reviews. The pool is clean, warm, changing facilities are spotless and staff are very welcoming.

Thank you Mark. Looking forward to my next lesson.

I started taking lessons with Learn To Swim in December 2024. Even though I could swim, I wasn't very efficient and didn't enjoy it much. I wanted to do a short triathlon and just enjoy swimming more, so at 66 I decided to improve.

I've had five or six lessons with my instructor, Mark. He has a wealth of experience, including several years with the French national squad, and is enthusiastic, patient and funny. Mark’s teaching style is evolutionary – he starts with the basics and then adds or subtracts elements to generate improvements. He always seems to have a go-to exercise if something new is proving tricky to master.

Lessons are an hour long, giving plenty of time to learn new techniques and reinforce previous ones. The 20m pool at Fitness First, Cottons Centre, is relaxed, never too busy, and has friendly staff and clean facilities. (Don't forget to bring a padlock and goggles; they provide towels.)

Booking through the LearnToSwim app is easy, and prices are fair, with no extra fees for pool admission or facility use. I highly recommend Learn To Swim to anyone wanting to learn or improve their swimming.

I’ve been taking lessons from Mark for 2 months and they have been absolutely amazing. Mark’s knowledge on swimming, his humour and method of teaching are what make his lessons memorable and enjoyable. I couldn’t recommend learnToswim enough for those who are looking to improve their swimming.

I have had several swimming lessons with Mark and I have found him to be an excellent instructor, he is both patient and encouraging.
His lessons are well organised and varied. They are tailored to my individual needs and broken down into manageable steps. Unlike most other instructors Mark is in the pool with you, which has helped me build up confidence in the water. Swimming aids are provided if needed.
After each session there is a resume on WhatsApp. This is a very useful reference point for future practising.
The venue is situated close to London Bridge Station. There is a designated lane for the swimming lesson and the venue is clean and well maintained. The staff are friendly and helpful.
I have recommended Mark to friends who have been equally impressed with his teaching skills.