Sport & Fitness

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Central
Best for… swimming in history
Ironmonger Row Baths
1-11 Ironmonger Row, EC1 (020 7253 4011/www.aquaterra.org) Old St tube.
Despite regular updating, this Grade II-listed 1930s building has kept all its charm. Beneath a stunning top-lit ceiling, wooden spectator benches look down on the 30-metre pool and smaller teaching pool. The public laundry has survived, with its traditional ironing presses alongside washing machines and tumble driers. And the Turkish baths are among the few left in the capital: there’s a steam room, three hot rooms, an icy plunge pool, relaxation areas and marble slabs for no-nonsense body scrubs and massages. You can also learn to dive with the Clidive Sub-Aqua Club (www.clidive.org).
Open Mon-Fri 6.30am-9.30pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm.
Cost £3.70; Turkish baths £7.70-£12.80.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Functional.
Sting factor Chlorine levels vary from 1.3 to 2.3 parts per million.
Goosebumps or lobsters? Water is kept comfortably warm, between 27C and 28C.
Dive in afterwards… No café, although the kitchen in the Turkish baths sometimes offers tea and biscuits. But Whitecross Street has lots of nice eating options.
If it’s rammed… Highbury Pool, Highbury Crescent, N5 (020 7704 2312/www.aquaterra.org) Highbury & Islington tube. Feature continues

Serpentine Lido
Hyde Park, W2 (020 7706 3422/www.serpentinelido.com). Hyde Park Corner tube.
Situated in the heart of Hyde Park, fresh water-favouring swimmers get dressed next to banks full of daisies and the odd goosefeather. Lidos need less chlorine than indoor pools due to their colder temperature, but the chlorine still makes the water slightly harsh. By contrast the Serpentine, being freshwater, is regenerative, having the same effect on the complexion as being hugged: any discordant molecules are soothed back into line.
Open June 5 to September 11, 10am-6pm.
Cost £3.75 (adults), 90p (children), £2.75 (concs). After 4pm: £3.00 (adults), 70p (children), £2.00 (concs).

Oasis Sports Centre
32 Endell St, WC2 (020 7831 1804/www.camden.gov.uk) Tottenham Court Rd tube.
Open Mon-Fri 6.30am-9pm; Sat, Sun 9.30am-5pm.
Cost £3.30.

Golden Lane Leisure Centre
Golden Lane Estate, Fann St, EC1 (020 7250 1464) Barbican tube/rail.
Open Mon, Tues, Fri 7am-8.30pm; Wed, Thur 7am-9.30pm; Sat, Sun 8am-4pm.
Cost £3.40.

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Laboratory Spa & Health Club (© Lisa Payne)

North
Best for… perfecting your stroke
Laboratory Spa & Health Club
The Avenue, N10 (020 8482 3000/www.labspa.co.uk) Highgate tube then 43/134 bus.
In the shadow of Alexandra Palace, this former British Rail lab is now a gym and spa. The 25-metre ozone-treated pool is rarely crowded and is a pleasure to swim in. It’s also the base for Steven Shaw’s acclaimed ‘Art of Swimming’ courses. A classy gym, a range of therapies and a great café complete the upmarket package.
Open Mon-Fri 7am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-9pm.
Cost On application; ‘Art of Swimming’ courses £150 for six weeks.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Stylish and comfy.
Sting factor Chlorine levels are a comfortable 1 part per million.
Goosebumps or lobsters? Balmy at 28C.
Dive in afterwards… The salad bar sells wraps, baguettes and booze.
If it’s rammed… Park Road Pools, Park Rd, N8 (020 8341 3567/www.haringey.gov.uk/leisure) Hornsey rail.

Best for… family fun
Finchley Lido Leisure Centre
Great North Leisure Park, Chaplin Square, N12 (020 8343 9830/www.gll.org) East Finchley tube.
The original outdoor pool closed in 1992, but was redeveloped four years later with a cinema, bowling centre and restaurants. The lido is
now far smaller, but still has a grassy terrace. Indoors, swimmers can plough up and down the main pool or enjoy the leisure pool’s wave machine and huge picture windows.
Open Mon-Fri 6.45am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-5pm.
Cost £5.15.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Recently refurbished.
Sting factor Chlorine levels are 1.4 parts per million.
Goosebumps or lobsters? A tropical 29C.
Dive in afterwards… to soup and sarnies.
If it’s rammed… Fountain Leisure Centre, 658 Chiswick High Rd, TW8 (0845 456 6675/www.hounslow.info). Kew Bridge rail.

Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre (© Andrew Brackenbury)

Best for… sparkling design
Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre
Adelaide Rd, NW3 (020 7974 2012/www.gll.org) Swiss Cottage tube.
Earlier this year, Time Out named Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, which reopened in 2006 as part of a wider local regeneration project, the best place in London for a workout. We described the centre as ‘a gem in both sporting and architectural terms that really does offer something for everyone’. Swimmers are superbly catered for with a bright, smart, eight-lane 25-metre main pool and 20-metre adjustable-depth teaching pool to one side.
Open Mon-Fri 6.30am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-6pm.
Cost £3.75.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Spacious and tidy.
Sting factor Chlorine levels are 1.3 parts per million.
Goosebumps or lobsters? A balmy 28C.
Dive in afterwards… A café sells tea, coffee and simple hot meals such as pasta.
If it’s rammed… Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds, Millfield Lane, NW5 (020 7485 4491/www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/openspaces) Gospel Oak rail.

Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds
Hampstead Heath, NW5 (020 7485 4491/www.cityoflondon.gov.uk) Hampstead Heath rail.
Open all day.
Cost £2.

Parliament Hill Lido
Parliament Hill Fields, Gordon House Rd, NW5 (020 7485 3873) Gospel Oak rail.
Open Mon-Sun 7-9am, 10am-6pm; Mon, Thur, Fri 6.45-8pm.
Cost £2 (early or late slots) or £4.30 (middle slot).

Laboratory Spa Hendon
14 Hall Lane, NW4 (020 8201 5500/www.labspa.co.uk) Hendon Central tube, then bus 113 or 186.
Open Mon-Fri 6.30am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-10pm.
Adm £91 for month membership.

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Tooting Bec Lido (© Michael Franke)

South
Best for… uninterrupted swimming
Tooting Bec Lido
Tooting Bec Rd, SW16 (020 8871 7198/www.wandsworth.gov.uk) Tooting Bec tube.
This is the undisputed daddy of all London lidos, both in terms of size – at 91.5 metres, it’s the second biggest outdoor freshwater pool in Europe – and reputation. As one of the London Pools Campaign assessors put it: ‘Best thing: everything. Worst thing: nothing’. The lido’s regulars love its vastness and the chance to swim endless lengths without jostling or interruption; families with young children, meanwhile, appreciate the paddling pool. And everyone adores the vibrant changing cubicle doors along the sides of the pool. The South London Swimming Club (www.slsc.org.uk) has been based here since 1908.
Open 6am-8pm daily.
Cost £3-£4.50.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Cubicles along the pool.
Sting factor Chlorine levels are a fairly high 2 parts per million.
Goosebumps or lobsters? Rather chilly.
Dive in afterwards… Sandwiches are available, though the café closes in bad weather.
If it’s rammed… Putney Leisure Centre, Dryburgh Rd, SW15 (020 8785 0388/www.dcleisurecentres.co.uk) Putney rail.

Brockwell Park Lido
Dulwich Rd, SE24 (020 7274 3088/www.brockwelllido.com) Herne Hill rail.
Open Mon-Fri 6.45am-6/7/8pm (weather dependent); Sat, Sun 12noon-6pm.
Cost £2.50 (morning swim), £4 or £5 (weather dependent).

Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
Ledrington Rd, SE19 (020 8778 0131/www.gll.org) Crystal Palace rail.
Open Mon-Fri 6.45am-10pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-6pm.
Cost £2.20 (before 5pm) or £3.90 (after 5pm).

Waterfront Leisure Centre
Woolwich High St, SE18 (020 8317 5000/www.gll.org) North Woolwich rail.
Open Mon-Fri 7am-11pm; Sat, Sun 8am-9.30pm.
Cost £1.40-£1.80.

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East
Best for… an early-morning dip
London Fields Lido
London Fields Westside, E8 (020 7254 9038/www.londonfieldsusergroup.org.uk) London Fields rail.
The London Fields User Group (LFUG) spent 18 years saving this glorious 1930s Olympic-sized lido from the bulldozers. Hackney Council adopted many of LFUG’s renovation proposals and the pool reopened in October 2006 to widespread acclaim. The original low red-brick buildings disguise the 50-metre pool, with its cheerful lockers and bunting. Families throng the place at weekends, but an early-morning dip is one of east London’s secret pleasures.
Open Mon-Fri 6.30am-8pm; Sat, Sun 6.30am-5pm.
Cost £2.70-£3.85.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Inside or outside.
Sting factor Chlorine levels are 1.5 parts per million (the UV light also kill germs).
Goosebumps or lobsters? A mild 26C.
Dive in afterwards… to tea, coffee and sandwiches – but they stop serving if it rains.
If it’s rammed… Clissold Leisure Centre, 63 Clissold Rd, N16 (020 7254 5574/www.hackney.gov.uk) Manor House tube.

Virgin Active Canary Riverside (© Rob Greig)

Best for… plush plunging Virgin Active
Canary Riverside
34 West Ferry Circus, Canary Wharf, E14 (020 7513 2999/www.virginactive.co.uk) Canary Wharf tube.
If you need a break from making money, the 20-metre pool at this Virgin Active club will help bring your blood pressure under control. Perched alongside the Thames, in a building with glass walls, it appears to extend into the river.
Open Mon-Thur 6am-11pm, Fri 6am-10pm, Sat 8am-9pm, Sun 9am-9pm.
Cost On application.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Underfloor heating.
Sting factor Chlorine levels are 1.3 parts per million.
Goosebumps or lobsters? A warming 27C.
Dive in afterwards… to the organic cafe with fruit juice, salads and a view of the Thames.
If it’s rammed… Golden Lane Leisure Centre, Fann St, EC1 (020 7250 1464/www.cityoflondon.gov.uk) Barbican tube.

East Ham Leisure Centre
324 Barking Rd, E6 (020 8548 5850/www.gll.org) East Ham tube.
Open Mon-Fri 7am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-5pm.
Cost £1.10-£3.35

St George’s Swimming Pool
John Orwell Sports Centre, Tench St, E1W (020 7488 9421/www.towerhamlets.gov.uk) Wappng tube.
Open Mon-Fri 7am-9pm; Sat, Sun 8am-6pm.
Cost £2.40-£3.80.

York Hall Leisure Centre
5-15 Old Ford Rd, E2 (020 8980 2243/www.gll.org) Bethnal Green tube.
Open Mon-Fri 7am-9.30pm, Sat 8am-8.30pm, Sun 8am-7.30pm.
Cost £1.30-£4.10.

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Hampton Pool (© Rob Greig)

West
Best for… all-year-round dips
Hampton Open-Air Pool
High Street, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 (020 8255 1116/www.hamptonpool.co.uk) Hampton rail.
This 36-metre pool in Bushy Park dates from 1922. Like many old recreational facilities, it was closed by the local council during the 1980s – but a local community action group prevented its demolition. It’s now operated by a not-for-profit trust and was fully renovated four years ago. It boasts a learner pool, gym and sunbathing area. Uniquely, it’s open 365 days a year with 1,000-odd swimmers enjoying a dip on Christmas Day before tucking into the turkey.
Open Mon-Fri 6am-9pm; Sat, Sun 9am-5pm.
Cost £4.50-£6.20.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Clean and practical.
Sting factor Chlorine levels are high-ish, at 2 parts per million.
Goosebumps or lobsters? Toasty, at 28C all year round.
Dive in afterwards… There’s an après-swim menu of soft drinks and sandwiches.
If it’s rammed… Pools on the Park, Twickenham Rd, Richmond TW9 (020 8940 0561/www.springhealth.net) Richmond tube/rail.

Richmond Pools on the Park
Old Deer Park, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 (020 8940 0561/www.springhealth.net). Richmond tube/rail.
Surrounded by palm trees and pampas grass, these half lido, half gym pools are part of a 1970s prefab sports centre and are usually steaming with workers getting on with their laps while planes loom overhead every few minutes from Heathrow.
Open Mon 6.30am-7.45pm; Tue-Fri 6.30am-8pm, Sat, Sun 7am-5.45pm
Cost Adult £3.90, child £3.20

Acton Swimming Baths
Salisbury St, W3 (020 8992 8877/www.gll.org) Acton Central rail/207, 607, 266, E3 bus.
Open Mon-Fri 7am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-6pm.
Cost £1.65-£4.80.

Gurnell Leisure Centre
Ruislip Rd East, W13 (020 8998 3241/www.gll.org) Perivale tube/Castle Bar Park rail/E7, E9, E10 bus.
Open Mon-Fri 7am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-5pm.
Cost £1.65-£3.35.

Porchester Centre
Queensway, W2 (020 7792 2919/www.westminster.gov.uk) Royal Oak or Bayswater tube.
Open 6.30am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-8pm.
Cost £4.85.

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