Tooting Bec Lido © South London SC
Outdoor swimming in London
-
By Natasha Polyviou
Updated: Thu Jun 25 2009 -
London is awash with lidos and open-air swimming spots. Here at Time Out, we can show you where to to take a dip but, much as we'd like to, can't guarantee the perfect weather for a splash. Here's hoping…
-
London Fields Lido
London Fields Westside, E8 3EU
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 pack the place out at weekends, but an early-morning dip is one of east London's secret pleasures. Read more
-
Tooting Bec Lido
Tooting Bec Rd, SW16 1RU
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. Read more
-
Serpentine Lido
Hyde Park, W2 3XA
London's oldest and most picturesque lido is situated in the heart of Hyde Park. You can swim surrounded by trees in London's longest stretch of pure lake water (110 yards of it). It's very family-friendly, with a paddling pool and cheap admission (£1) for children. 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 wonderfully regenerative. Read more
-
Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds
Hampstead Heath, NW5 1QR
The Hampstead Ponds must be one of the city's most idyllic settings for an outdoor dip. What were originally dammed-off clay brick pits today form six ponds, three of which are used for bathing - segregated into ladies', men's and mixed ponds. Swimming in the ponds is bracing, even during summer. Read more
-
Parliament Hill Lido
Parliament Hill Fields, Gordon House Rd, NW5 1LP
This pool has retained its stylish 1930s fittings. At a spacious 60m x 28m, it's a good site for athletes; triathletes and water polo teams train here. Read more
-
Brockwell Lido
Brockwell Park, Dulwich Rd, SE24 0PA
Nicknamed Brixton Beach, this lido features a large pool plus special rooms for yoga, tai chi and meditation. It also wins points for its music groups, educational projects and get-togethers for young mums as well as disabled and autistic children. Read more
-
Oasis Sports Centre
Endell St, WC2H 9AG
The Oasis, known for its sun terrace and outdoor, heated swimming pool, is a central-London gem - a haven for summer sun seekers and sturdy winter dippers alike. Both that and the adjacent indoor pool are supervised by a team of fully qualified life guards. During winter, heating in the outdoor pool tends to overcompensate for the cold weather and may deter the keener swimmer. Be warned that the place is very popular and trying to get any real swimming done on a hot summer weekend or at peak times is near impossible. Read more
-
Finchley Lido Leisure Centre
Great North Leisure Park, Chaplin Square, London, N12 0GL
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. Read more
-
Park Road Pools
Park Rd, London, N8 8JN
Crouch End's lido, built in 1929, has a 50-metre pool with grassy sunbathing areas, a children's pool and a fountain. Read more
-
Richmond Pools on the Park
Old Deer Park, Surrey, TW9 2SF
Surrounded by palm trees and pampas grass, these half-lido, half-gym pools are part of a 1970s prefab sports centre and are usually populated by workers getting on with their laps while planes loom overhead every few minutes from Heathrow. Read more
-
Hampton Open-Air Pool
High St, Hampton, Mddx, TW12 2ST
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 community action group prevented its demolition. It's now operated by a not-for-profit trust and 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. Read more
-
- Add your comment to this feature
|
|
More ways to enjoy Time Out
-
Weekly London newsletter
The best of London in your inbox
-
Time Out Widgets
|
|
8 comments
Living in London, both Tooting and London fields has been such a Monday treat (my day off). Sun or rain, it is always refreshing and invigorating to have a dip. In regards to the supposed vast population of people who join in the fun,they simply appear to go unnoticed. Mainly, it seems sparse, and always a friendly face to have a chat with. Weekend's also, are vibrant and playful. I am thankful that london offers such a lovely experience for us londoners and will hold my glass up to many more merry times in the treasure of of our lido's. Chin Chin
@celine: I didn't realize that a lot of the poor black people in South Africa had pools as well.
@mary: nice correction but making an assumption that 666,666.66 people would even go to the pool at the same time as you is a major fail on your part.
"...just about every home had a private pool" in South Africa... Would that such luxury were true, population-wide.
Someday, perhaps.
"12 pools for 11 million people" - Well the population of London has soared over the last ten years but not quite as much as that.
Figures show that now 7.56 million people call the capital home – a 542,000 rise on 1997.
- Still- 12 pools for 8 million people gives us a devilish average of 666,666.66 per pool. Think I'll give it a miss this summer.
There are lots of lakes and docks in London, they need cleaning up and allowing people to swim in them too!!!
Lets start with Greenland Dock in Canada Water.............
I grew up in South Africa and just about every home had a private pool. I also wish I had that now (Paul) but like Oscar, am just pleased there are any pools at all. I'll be enjoying one of them this weekend!!
12 pools for 11 million people. and i'm supposed to get excited about that. when i was growing up barnet had loads of public swimming pools now it has two and none are open air
Wish I was in any one of those right now.