Does anyone know about outdoor swimming in London?

[garlictwist]

Posting for traffic.

I am going to be down in London on Saturday for work and as the weather looks good I thought I might try and swim outdoors somewhere.

I have done some googling and it looks like you have to book the Hampstead Heath ponds and they are all sold out, as is the pool.

The Serpentine one - it says you need to book but I can't find any info on how to do that.

I can't really travel any further as I need to get my train back up from Kings Cross in the afternoon.

Does anyone know if you can just turn up to Hampstead Heath without a booking, or if there's anywhere else I can go?

I will literally be jumping in and out and don't really want to spend hours there.

Thanks!

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/hampstead-heath/where-to-go-at-hampstead-heath/kenwood-ladies-pond

You don’t need to book at the ladies pond if you go early or late (there will be a queue though given the weather).

Oasis Sports Centre has an outdoor pool. It is very central, so the experience will be different. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oasis_Sports_Centre,_London

West Reservoir Centre in Hackney offers open water swimming sessions, you do have to book though. www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/hackney/west-reservoir-centre/open-water-swimming#

Similar to the ponds above, you don’t have to book Parliament Hill Lido if you go at the beginning or end of the day.

London Fields Lido could be another option.

Watching with interest.

Thanks all! Unfortunately I won't be free until 11am so too late to get to the non bookable sessions.

It looks like the London Fields one is also sold out.

I will keep trying... :-)

There is also Parliament Hill lido. I don’t remember booking but that was 15 years ago - but I bet anywhere you don’t have to book will have a massive queue.

Sorry, see someone already mentioned Parliament Hill

Park Lane Lido Hornsey isn't too far from kings cross. 50m pool, you need to book

There may be hotels with outdoor pools that let non-residents in, but probably not worth paying a big entry fee if you're only dipping in and out.

Haven't they just opened one at Canary Wharf?

It says it's free at weekends.

canarywharf.com/whats-on/open-water-swimming/

Thanks everyone.

There are tickets left for the men's pond - I wonder if I could identify as a man for 45 minutes and they'd let me in?!

Wear your swimsuit under a loose dress and strip off at the fountains on the S Bank
www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/jeppe-heins-appearing-rooms