Into The Blue Shoreham By Sea

So, picture this: you’re in Shoreham-by-Sea, a sleepy seaside town that looks like it was dipped in beige paint and forgot to take a nap. And then, someone had the brilliant—or possibly sunstroke-induced—idea to build a giant concrete shipwreck and call it Into The Blue. Yes, a massive, multi-million-pound art installation that’s supposed to look like abandoned ocean liner. It’s like a retired cruise ship got lost on the way to the scrapyard and decided to settle down for a cup of tea.

But here’s the kicker: this isn’t just any fake shipwreck. It’s a public swimming pool. That’s right—you can swim inside a colossal concrete ghost ship, all while seagulls judge your breaststroke form. The locals were so excited they practically threw a parade. Actually, they did throw a parade, complete with a man dressed as a mermaid. I’m not making that up.

A Pool With a Plot Twist

The pool itself is 50 meters long and heated to a balmy 30°C, which is warmer than the English summer. But the real surprise? The water is chronically clear. They use a special filtration system that doesn’t rely on chlorine, so you can see the bottom like you’re peering into a giant, clean puddle. And get this: the whole thing floats on the River Adur, which means technically, you’re swimming in a floating shipwreck. If that’s not a metaphor for modern life, I don’t know what is.

Oh, and the view? From the pool deck, you can watch the actual, real-life ships drift by. It’s like a maritime version of “I’m not with stupid”—the fake shipwreck pretending to be a real one, while real boats just chug along, unimpressed.

INTO THE BLUE RESTAURANT, Shoreham-by-Sea - 2026 Reviews

Surprising Facts That’ll Make You Spit Out Your Pastry

First fact: the designer, a guy named Architecture 00 (yes, that’s actually the firm’s name), built the thing to resemble a crashed ocean liner because the area was once a major shipping route. Second fact: it cost a whopping £12 million, which is roughly the price of 200,000 fish-and-chip dinners. Third fact: the pool is open all year round, even in winter. So you can swim in January, watching icicles form on the fake smokestacks while your teeth chatter. It’s the most British thing since soggy biscuits.

But the best part? The pool has a secret underwater viewing window. Pop your head under the surface and you’ll see the riverbed, complete with curious fish peering back at you. It’s like an aquarium, except the fish are saying, “What the heck are you doing in that concrete monster?”

INTO THE BLUE RESTAURANT, Shoreham-by-Sea - 2026 Reviews

Should You Go? Absolutely—But Bring a Sense of Humor

Is it absurd? Yes. Is it a bit bonkers? Totally. But Into The Blue is also oddly charming, like a drunk uncle at a wedding who insists on doing the Macarena. You’ll spend the first ten minutes laughing at the sheer audacity, then another hour pretending you’re a castaway while floating on your back. Just don’t expect a tropical paradise—this is Shoreham, so the soundtrack is seagulls squawking and the occasional lorry rumbling by.

Last surprising fact: the pool is carbon-negative—it generates more energy than it uses via solar panels on the “ship.” So while you’re splashing around in a fake wreck, you’re actually saving the planet. Now that’s a plot twist no one saw coming. Grab your goggles, a willingness to giggle, and prepare for the weirdest swim of your life. You’ll never look at a lifebuoy the same way again.