It’s no secret that I am a big fan of swimming and with the increased popularity of wild swimming I’ve been discovering how easy it is to swim outdoors in London.
My top outdoor swimming spots in London (kind of) :
Beckenham Place Lake has become my new favourite place to swim. A sandy bottom purpose built swimming lake, with shallow areas for paddling. You have to wear a tow float whilst you swim (which you don’t notice at all) Recently the temperature has been 21c so a good choice for those fearful of cold waters!
Charlton lido is a winner in winter. When I first lived in London this was a favourite of mine, it had recently been renovated and the heated pool was a luxury!
Brockwell Lido is pretty special, the queues can curve all the way back around the building in the height of summer (even before covid booking was essential). 400 Rabbits have a great poolside cafe for a cheeky pizza after!
Hampstead Heath, Kenwood Ladies’ ponds is a classic London rite of passage, it’s in a really tranquil and secluded spot plus there are beautiful mandarin ducks that swim alongside you.
Swimming Ladies
The Swimming Ladies are a series of illustrations that celebrate the magic of swimming. Whether a solo dip in a Tidal Pool, a chilled swim with your friends in the Ladies’ Ponds, hanging by the Pool with your Lido Lasses or running and doing a Cannonball on a hot summers day. Available as prints in a variety of sizes and also as a set of greetings cards.
Places I’m going try soon:
West Reservoir in Hackney, this has been on my list for a while and I hope it’s worth crossing the river for!
Divers Cove is a swimming reservoir that is definitely not in London but it’s a short car journey in a cute village called Godstone.
I would love to hear your swimming recommendations.