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Lidos and outdoor swimming pools in London

London's best outdoor swimming spots

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Classes, clubs and events

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Serpentine Lido Serpentine Lido - © Celia Topping

Where can you make a splash in London? Find out by diving into Time Out's outdoor swimming guide. Plus find the one nearest to you with our London outdoor swimming map


  • Brockwell Lido

    Brockwell Lido

    Open until October , Brockwell Park, Dulwich Rd, SE24 0PA (020 7274 3088)

    Brixton Beach, as the 50-metre pool is nicknamed, is surrounded by art deco, Grade II-listed buildings and now includes the light and airy Lido Café, where you can start the day with treats such as eggs Florentine.

  • Finchley Lido

    Finchley Lido Leisure Centre

    Great North Leisure Park, Chaplin Square, N12 0GL (020 8343 9830)

    The 1990s update of the original '30s lido is housed in a complex that includes an indoor pool, cinema and bowling alley. The lido is now far smaller, but still has a grassy terrace.

  • Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds

    Hampstead Heath, NW5 1QR (020 7485 4491)

    Situated in the bucolic expanses of the Heath, the three ponds are open respectively to ladies, men and mixed groups. The water is chilly, even during the summer.

  • Hampton Pool

    Hampton Pool

    High St, Hampton, TW12 2ST (020 8255 1116)

    Dating from 1922, this 36-metre, open-air pool is located on the fringes of Bushy Park and is endowed with a waterside lawn for sun-seekers. The water is kept at a balmy 28 degrees year-round.

  • Hillingdon Outdoor Pool

    Hillingdon Sport and Leisure Complex, Gatting Way, UB8 1ES, (0845 130 7324)

    Formerly known as Uxbridge Lido, the Grade II-listed, 50-metre, open-air swimming pool has a unique 12-sided shape. It was reopened in 2010, restored to its 1930s glory, complete with a new, heated, shallow splash pool for children.

  • London Fields Lido

    Open all year round, London Fields Westside, E8 3EU (020 7254 9038)

    The 50-metre heated pool, with its cheerful waterside lockers, is loved as much by the early-morning dippers ploughing up and down, as by the families that fill it to overflowing at weekends.

  • Parliament Hill Lido

    Parliament Hill Fields, Gordon House Rd, NW5 1LP (020 7485 3873)

    Dive into the spacious, 60-metre-by-28-metre Parliament Hill Lido, which provides an alternative to the three bathing ponds on Hampstead Heath. You'll need a strong constitution on cooler days, as the 1930s pool remains unheated.

  • Serpentine Lido

    Open May bank holiday weekends, then from June 1 to Sept 12, Hyde Park, W2 3XA (020 7706 3422)

    Swimming in London's longest expanse of pure lake water (100 metres) is wonderfully regenerative, thanks to the absence of chlorine and its picturesque location in the centre of Hyde Park.

  • Tooting Bec lido, winner of a Golden Goggle award

    Tooting Bec Lido

    Tooting Bec Rd, SW16 1RU (020 8871 7198)

    South London's vast pool, with its iconic, Pantone-coloured changing huts, has been treasured by fortunate locals since it opened as a bathing lake in 1906. At just over 90 metres, it's this country's largest outdoor freshwater pool.

  • Oasis Sports Centre

    Endell St, WC2H 9AG (020 7831 1804)

    A 27.5-metre expanse of blue, the outdoor pool at Oasis in Covent Garden is a central London revelation to the uninitiated. Once you've discovered the open-air heated pool, sun terrace and adjacent indoor pool you'll be hooked.

  • Park Road Pools

    Park Rd, London, N8 8JN (020 8341 3567)

    Crouch End's 50-metre lido is heated and dates from 1929. The centre includes diving areas, a children's pool, exercise studios, a steam and sauna room and strips of lawn to lounge on when the sun's shining.

  • Richmond Pools on the Park

    Old Deer Park, TW9 2SF (020 8940 0561)

    Featuring both a lido and an indoor pool, the Richmond Pools are part of a sports centre and benefit from their verdant location by the Old Deer Park.

Map of Lidos and outdoor swimming pools in London


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Comments

By pip - Nov 25 2011

Hi Tooting is closed only to general public during winter months only
South London Swimming Club members swim at tooting 365 days a year
Winter membership is very cheep
And so is annual membership 30p a day or there about
Turn up and ask whoever you bump into for details make sure you bring a costume
I swim every day with at least 50 or 60 familiar faces (great People)
Cheers Pip

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By pootle - Oct 1 2011

Funny that Time Out promoted this page on the balmy October days (1-2 October 2011) although Tooting Bec Lido closed for the season yesterday. Shame.

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By swimming poole outdoors with sunbading west london - Oct 1 2011

swimming poole outdoors with sunbading london

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By CJ - May 8 2011

It should probably be noted that due to seasonal openings, not all of these are open yet.

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