Where to Swim in London
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The ponds, lidos and open-water spots across London — when each is open, what it costs, and how to get there.
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The ponds, lidos and open-water spots across London — when each is open, what it costs, and how to get there.
Loading the latest information…
Cheap and free swimming is one of London’s real joys — the Hampstead ponds, the great lidos, the Serpentine. Here’s where you can actually swim across the city: what each place is, when it’s open, roughly what it costs, and how to get there. Prices and seasons change, and open water closes at no notice, so each entry links its operator for the final word.
Hampstead Heath, Camden
Getting there: Gospel Oak or Hampstead Heath (London Overground), then across the Heath.
City of London Corporation — Swimming at Hampstead Heath
Source: City of London Corporation — Hampstead Heath swimming tickets and prices (valid to 31 March 2027), checked 30 July 2026 (4 weeks ago).
Hampstead Heath, Camden
Getting there: Gospel Oak or Hampstead Heath (London Overground); the pond is on the Highgate side of the Heath.
City of London Corporation — Swimming at Hampstead Heath
Source: City of London Corporation — Hampstead Heath swimming tickets and prices (valid to 31 March 2027), checked 30 July 2026.
Hampstead Heath, Camden
Getting there: Hampstead (Northern line) or Hampstead Heath (Overground), on the south side of the Heath.
City of London Corporation — Swimming at Hampstead Heath
Source: City of London Corporation — Hampstead Heath swimming tickets and prices (valid to 31 March 2027), checked 30 July 2026.
Hampstead Heath (Gospel Oak side), Camden
Getting there: Gospel Oak (London Overground), a short walk to the Lido.
City of London Corporation — Parliament Hill Lido
Source: City of London Corporation — Hampstead Heath swimming tickets and prices (valid to 31 March 2027), checked 30 July 2026.
London Fields, Hackney
Getting there: London Fields (London Overground); buses 236, 254, 388 nearby.
Better (GLL) — London Fields Lido
Source: Better (GLL) — London Fields Lido prices, checked 30 July 2026 (4 weeks ago).
Hornfair Park, Charlton, Greenwich
Getting there: Charlton (National Rail), then a walk up to Hornfair Park.
Better (GLL) — Charlton Lido & Lifestyle Club
Source: Better (GLL) — Charlton Lido prices, checked 30 July 2026 (4 weeks ago).
Brockwell Park, Herne Hill, Lambeth
Now run by the council’s own Active Lambeth, which took over from Better on 1 July 2026. The lido posts a live water temperature — worth a look before an off-season dip, and under-16s can only swim when it is 15°C or above.
Getting there: Herne Hill (National Rail), a few minutes into Brockwell Park.
Active Lambeth — Brockwell Lido
Source: Active Lambeth — Brockwell Lido, checked 30 July 2026 (4 weeks ago).
Tooting Bec Common, Wandsworth
Getting there: Tooting Bec (Northern line), then across the common.
Places Leisure — Tooting Bec Lido
Source: Wandsworth Council — Tooting Bec Lido 2026 season, checked 6 July 2026 (last month).
The Serpentine, Hyde Park (The Royal Parks)
The Serpentine Swimming Club — said to be Britain’s oldest — swims here at dawn (05:30–09:30) all year and races the Christmas Day Peter Pan Cup.
Getting there: Hyde Park Corner or Knightsbridge (Piccadilly line), then into Hyde Park.
The Royal Parks — Hyde Park swimming
Open water is not a pool
Don't swim in the tidal Thames
Blue-green algae in the lakes
Summer sessions book up
Source: The Royal Parks — Hyde Park swimming (season, prices and the current closure notice), checked 30 July 2026 (4 weeks ago).
Highgate Men's Pond, Hampstead Heath
9 places to swim near town
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