There is something wonderfully London about spending a hot summer day in a lido. From huge Art Deco pools and heated Olympic-sized swimming pools to natural bathing ponds and a brand-new floating pool surrounded by skyscrapers, London has an amazing choice of places to swim outdoors.
And you don't have to be a serious swimmer to enjoy them. Some are great for doing lengths, others are perfect for a lazy afternoon, while some have cafés, grassy areas and plenty of space for families. Here are 10 of the best lidos and outdoor swimming spots in London, including addresses so you can easily plan your next swim.
Opening times, booking arrangements and prices can change, particularly during the summer, so check before setting off.
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1. Tooting Bec Lido – the biggest and most iconic
Tooting Bec Lido Web Address: Tooting Bec Rd, London, SW16 1RU, United Kingdom
📍 Address: Tooting Bec Road, Tooting, London, SW16 1RU
If you want the full-blown classic London lido experience, Tooting Bec Lido is hard to beat. At around 91 metres long, it is the UK's largest freshwater outdoor swimming pool and one of London's most recognisable swimming spots.
Set within Tooting Bec Common, the enormous pool has become famous for its colourful changing-room doors, Art Deco character and sheer scale. It is a fantastic place to spend a sunny summer day, although the water is unheated, so be prepared for a bracing swim! There is also a children's paddling pool, café and sunbathing area.
Tooting Bec Lido is open to the public during the summer season, with 2026 public swimming running from 1 May to 30 September. It can get extremely busy on hot days, so booking ahead is recommended.
Best for: A classic London lido experience, huge outdoor swimming, families and sunny summer days.
Getting there: Tooting Bec Underground Station is around a 10–15 minute walk away, while the 249 and 319 buses stop on Tooting Bec Road outside the lido.
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2. Brockwell Lido – best for swimming and brunch
Brockwell Lido Web Address: Dulwich Rd, London, SE24 0PA, United Kingdom Phone: +442079268553
📍 Address: Dulwich Road, London, SE24 0PA
Set into the corner of Brockwell Park, Brockwell Lido is one of London's most beautiful outdoor pools. The Grade II-listed Art Deco buildings give it a wonderfully retro feel, while the 50-metre pool makes it perfectly practical for proper lengths.
It is also one of the best choices if you want to make a whole day of it. Swim first, wander around Brockwell Park afterwards and then stop for something to eat at the lido café.
Brockwell is famously popular when the sun comes out, so expect queues on particularly hot weekends. It is open year-round, although the water is unheated, making winter swimming very much a matter of commitment!
Best for: Art Deco architecture, swimming and a post-swim coffee.
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3. Parliament Hill Lido – best views
Parliament Hill Fields Lido Web Address: Parliament Hill Fields, Gordon House Rd, London NW5 1LT, United Kingdom Phone: +442074855757
📍 Address: Parliament Hill Fields, Gordon House Road, London, NW5 1LT
For a combination of swimming, history and views, head north to Parliament Hill Lido. The 60-metre pool sits on the edge of Hampstead Heath and is one of London's great historic outdoor swimming spots.
The pool dates back to the 1930s and has that wonderfully austere Art Deco character that makes London's old lidos so distinctive. After your swim, you can explore Hampstead Heath, walk up to Parliament Hill for one of London's best skyline views or head into nearby Highgate.
The lido operates throughout the year, although summer sessions can be bookable and popular. (City of London)
Best for: Combining a swim with a walk on Hampstead Heath.
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4. London Fields Lido – the heated one
London Fields Lido Web Address: London Fields West Side, London, E8 3EU, United Kingdom
📍 Address: London Fields West Side, London, E8 3EU
For East Londoners, London Fields Lido is an obvious favourite. Right next to London Fields park, it has a huge 50-metre heated outdoor pool, making it one of the best options if you want the outdoor-swimming experience without having to brave freezing water.
The pool dates from 1932 and was reopened after a major restoration in 2006. Today it is one of the capital's busiest outdoor swimming spots and is particularly popular with swimmers who want to fit a few lengths into their morning routine.
The surrounding London Fields area also makes it easy to turn your swim into a whole East London day out, with Broadway Market, cafés, shops and plenty of parkland nearby.
Best for: East London, heated swimming and combining a swim with brunch.
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5. Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds – for a proper wild swim
Mixed Bathing Pond
Mixed Bathing Pond Web Address: Hampstead Heath, London, NW5 1QR, United Kingdom Phone: +442074853873
📍 Address: Hampstead Heath, London, NW5 1QR
If the word lido makes you think of tiled pools and chlorine, the Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds are something completely different.
There are three natural swimming ponds on the Heath: the Mixed Pond, Kenwood Ladies' Pond and Highgate Men's Pond. They offer a much more natural swimming experience, surrounded by trees, grass and the beautiful landscape of Hampstead Heath.
The Mixed Pond is open to everyone and swimming takes place from April to October. The water is deep and untreated, so these ponds are intended for competent swimmers. (City of London)
Best for: Wild swimming, nature and escaping the city without actually leaving London.
Worth knowing: The City of London recommends checking the latest conditions before swimming because the ponds can occasionally close because of water-quality or algae issues. (City of London)
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6. Serpentine Lido – swim in the middle of Hyde Park
Serpentine Lido Web Address: Hyde Park, London, W2 2UH, United Kingdom Phone: +443000612166
📍 Address: Hyde Park, London, W2 2UH
Fancy swimming somewhere that feels genuinely historic? The Serpentine Lido is part of the Serpentine Swimming Club in Hyde Park and offers the rather surreal experience of swimming outdoors right in the centre of London.
It is particularly famous for the Peter Pan Cup, an annual Christmas Day swimming race that dates back more than 150 years.
During the summer, non-members can swim at the lido, making it a great option if you want to combine a dip with a day exploring Hyde Park, Kensington or the West End. (visitlondon.com)
Best for: Central London, history and an unforgettable swimming location.
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7. Charlton Lido – great for families
Charlton Lido and Lifestyle Club
Charlton Lido and Lifestyle Club Web Address: Hornfair Park, Shooters Hill Rd, London SE18 4LX, United Kingdom Phone: +442088567389
📍 Address: Hornfair Park, Shooters Hill Road, London, SE18 4LX
Tucked away in Hornfair Park in south-east London, Charlton Lido is a 50-metre heated outdoor pool that is particularly good if you want somewhere a little less fashionable and hectic than some of the famous central and south London lidos.
It was extensively refurbished before reopening and has two sun terraces, as well as a café, gym and fitness facilities.
The heated water is a definite advantage, especially when the British summer decides to provide British weather rather than sunshine.
Best for: Families, heated swimming and south-east London.
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8. Park Road Pool – Crouch End's hidden summer gem
Ironmonger Row Baths
Ironmonger Row Baths Web Address: 1 Norman St, London, EC1V 3AA, United Kingdom Phone: +442036425520
📍 Address: Park Road, London, N8 8JN
One of north London's best outdoor swimming options is Park Road Pool in Crouch End. The 50-metre heated lido dates back to 1926 and has grassy areas around the pool, making it particularly appealing if you want to spend more time beside the water rather than simply swim and leave.
There is also a children's pool and diving areas, while the wider leisure centre has an indoor pool and other facilities.
It has a much more local, neighbourhood feel than some of London's headline lidos.
Best for: Families, sunbathing and a relaxed local atmosphere.
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9. Hillingdon Lido – one of London's best-kept secrets
📍 Address: Hillingdon Sports & Leisure Complex, Gatting Way, Uxbridge, UB8 1ES
Head out towards west London and you'll find Hillingdon Lido, a Grade II-listed outdoor pool with a surprisingly impressive history.
The heated 50-metre pool is surrounded by large areas of paving and greenery and forms part of the Hillingdon Sports & Leisure Complex. The outdoor pool operates seasonally, generally from spring into autumn. (Londonist)
It is a particularly good choice if you're looking for somewhere outside the central London lido circuit and don't mind travelling a little further.
Best for: West London, families and a less obvious lido choice.
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10. Sea Lanes Canary Wharf – London's newest outdoor swimming experience
📍 Address: Eden Dock, Heron Quays Road, London, E14 4HJ
If the old-school lidos are about Art Deco buildings and 1930s architecture, Sea Lanes Canary Wharf is the complete opposite.
Opened in 2026, this new outdoor swimming destination has a 50-metre floating natural-water pool in Eden Dock, right underneath the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf. There are also saunas, changing facilities and the option to swim in the dock itself. (Sea Lanes Canary Wharf)
It is particularly interesting because it brings open-water swimming into the heart of the modern city. You can be doing lengths in the pool while looking up at Canary Wharf's skyscrapers – it is about as London as outdoor swimming gets.
It is open year-round, and both memberships and pay-per-swim sessions are available. (Sea Lanes Canary Wharf)
Best for: Something completely different, open-water swimming and Canary Wharf views.
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Which London lido should you choose?
| Lido | Best for | Heated? | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tooting Bec | Huge pool & serious swimming | No | South London |
| Brockwell | Art Deco & brunch | No | South London |
| Parliament Hill | Views & history | No | North London |
| London Fields | Warm outdoor swimming | Yes | East London |
| Hampstead Ponds | Wild swimming | No | North London |
| Serpentine | Central London & history | No | Hyde Park |
| Charlton | Families | Yes | South-east London |
| Park Road | Local/family swimming | Yes | Crouch End |
| Hillingdon | Quieter west London option | Yes | West London |
| Sea Lanes | Modern open-water swimming | No | Canary Wharf |
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Tips for visiting London's lidos
Book ahead where you can. The most popular pools can become extremely busy when temperatures rise. Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath and Sea Lanes all have booking systems or sessions where advance booking can be useful. (City of London)
Don't assume every outdoor pool is heated. London Fields, Charlton and Park Road are good choices if you want warmer water, whereas Brockwell, Tooting Bec and the natural ponds are considerably more bracing.
Go early on hot days. A sunny Saturday afternoon can mean queues at the most famous lidos. An early morning swim is often a completely different experience – quieter, cooler and considerably more peaceful.
Take more than just your swimming costume. A big towel, flip-flops, water bottle, sun cream and something warm to put on afterwards are all worth packing. And if you're cycling, a good bike bag makes getting to London's outdoor pools considerably easier!
London's lidos are having a moment
Outdoor swimming has become one of London's great summer rituals. What was once a relatively niche pastime has become incredibly popular, with historic lidos being restored, swimming ponds attracting new generations of swimmers and completely new outdoor swimming venues appearing in unexpected places.
And perhaps that's what makes London's lidos so special. You can swim beneath skyscrapers at Canary Wharf, do lengths in a 1930s Art Deco pool, jump into a natural pond on Hampstead Heath or finish a swim with coffee and cake beside Brockwell Park – all without leaving the capital.
So grab your swimsuit, pack a towel and pick your pool. There really is a London lido for everyone.
Useful links
City of London – Swimming at Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath swimming tickets and prices
Visit London – London's outdoor swimming pools and lidos
Information checked for summer 2026; opening times, prices, booking requirements and temporary closures can change, so check the individual venue before visiting.
