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The east London ‘hidden gem’ open water swimming spot getting a stunning makeover

The council wants to improve accessibility and create a more welcoming atmosphere

Annie McNamee
Written by
Annie McNamee
Contributor, Time Out London and UK
The plans for the West Reservoir Centre
Photograph: Hackney Council
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Getting to the water is a must when it’s hot, but you can run into issues when you live in the middle of London. Getting to a beach requires at least one train, by which point the seaside is already heaving. 

Here in the capital we have plenty of great lidos, one of which we recently crowned the city’s best, but most of them are equally packed on a sunny day, so you might need to think outside of the box if you want a calm, relaxing swim. Luckily, Hackney has the answer – and it’s due to get a massive upgrade soon.

The West Reservoir Centre in Stoke Newington has been open to swimmers for over 20 years now. It’s a lesser known outdoor swimming spot up near Woodberry Down, but after a couple of decades in use, it’s in need of a bit of a refresh – which is exactly what it’s about to get.

Upgrades will make the reservoir centre more accessible and much greener. The council won’t be doing much to the water – this is a reservoir, after all – but the goal is to create ‘a more welcoming destination for both local residents and visitors’. Some of the work includes two new accessible entrances, a brand new café to chill out post-swim, a new reception area, and ‘expanded open water swimming opportunities’. A new grassy patch for relaxing will also be added next to the water’s edge.

It’s all being funded by the Greater London Authority as an effort to improve community spaces and create a better space for the people of Stoke Newington.

The good news is that the water will remain open throughout the works, though it may not be the most peaceful swim. Regardless, no plans need change while the reservoir is getting its makeover. By this time next year, most of the work should be done, with the project currently expected to reach completion in May 2026.

Caroline Woodley, Hackney mayor, said that the changes are ‘about so much more than bricks and mortar’, describing the West Reservoir Centre as ‘ one of Hackney’s hidden gems, a place where communities connect with nature, get active, and enjoy some of the borough’s most stunning open water views’. The plans, she added, ‘[reflect] Hackney’s commitment to climate action and inclusive design’.

You can book your next cold-water dip at the centre on its website here.

The best lidos and open-air swimming pools in London.

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