Sport of the Month London Open Water Swimming (London)

Outdoor Swimming

What better way to spend a summer morning or afternoon than going for an open-water swim? It is finally summer and time to break out the bathing suits and enjoy the many lakes, ponds and lidos London has to offer. Take some time to catch some sun and cool off with some outdoor swimming. There are numerous places all around London that have open-water and open-air swimming available.

For a full list of swimming pools in London (indoor and outdoor), go to Find a Sports Club/ Venuewhere you will find over 144 to choose from.

Here are some of the more popular outdoor venues:

Brockwell Park: Located in South London, it is often called "Brixton's Beach." Brockwell Park features one of the only remaining outdoor swimming pools in London and also features a small paddling pool for small children. The park is opened daily from May to September.

Pools on the Park: Pools on the Park is in Old Deer Park in Richmond located in West London. The lido was upgraded in the 1990s. Pools on the Park is open late (8 pm or sometimes even later), so it great for an after work swim or a nice relaxing swim in the cool evening air.

The Serpentine Lido: The Serpentine Lido is located in Hyde Park. This is a very popular swimming venue in the summer months. The large lake is open for the public to take a dip in on hot summer days, just like people have been doing for hundreds of years. The swimming part of the lake is marked off and is clearly visible. There are also chairs available for hire, as well as a sunbathing spot.

Tooting Bec Lido: Another largely popular lido is the Tooting Bec Lido located in Tooting Common in South London. The Tooting Bec Lido is 90m long and is the earliest "purpose-built" open air pool in London and the largest fresh water, open-air swimming pool in England. The Lido also features a shallow paddling pool for young children. The Lido can get very busy during the summer, sometimes exceeding 2,000 visitors a day.

There are many more open water swimming pools and lakes around London, so go out and explore the swimming scene London has to offer.