Every Single London Swim Spot (Summer 2026)

No burying the lead today, I'm too hot — here's a list of every single place you can swim outside in London this summer. If I've missed one let me know.

Also, thank you so much to everyone who responded to my call for pics from your bank holiday heatwave swims!! Some pretty idyllic scenes which I've included at the end.

Unheated Lidos

• Brockwell Lido (Herne Hill) — Grade II-listed art deco icon. Maps
• Tooting Bec Lido (Streatham) — The largest freshwater outdoor pool in the UK. Members-only in winter, open to all in summer. South London Swimming Club · Maps
• Parliament Hill Lido (Hampstead Heath) — Open 365 days, on-site sauna, very unique metal-bottomed pool. City of London – Hampstead Heath · Maps
• Finchley Lido (Finchley) — Outdoor pool, summer only. Maps

Ponds, Lakes & Reservoirs

• Hampstead Mixed Pond (Hampstead Heath) — Open mid-April to October currently, although some chatter it will open over winter. City of London – Hampstead Heath · Maps
• Kenwood Ladies' Pond (Hampstead Heath) — Year-round swimming. Sacred ground. City of London – Hampstead Heath · Maps
• Highgate Men's Pond (Hampstead Heath) — Also year-round avec diving board. City of London – Hampstead Heath · Maps
• Serpentine Lido (Hyde Park) — Marked-off swim area, public swimming mid-May to mid-September. The Royal Parks · Maps
• West Reservoir Centre (Stoke Newington) — Home venue of our social swim club!! Better – West Reservoir · Maps
• Beckenham Place Park Swimming Lake (Beckenham) — Restored swimming lake which I've heard very good things about. beckenhamplacepark.com · Maps

The West Reservoir. Our home venue :)

The Thames

• Ham & Kingston / Teddington Lock — London's first official Thames bathing water site (designated 15 May 2026). Free. Tested weekly through to 30 September. Environment Agency – Swimfo (Ham bathing water) · Maps

Docks

• Sea Lanes Canary Wharf (Eden Dock) — Opens June 2026. 50m, six-lane natural water floating pool. sealanescanarywharf.co.uk · Maps
• Royal Victoria Dock (Silvertown / Royal Docks) — Huge open water venue, booked sessions. Love Open Water – Royal Docks · Maps

Heated Lidos

• London Fields Lido (Hackney) — Better · Maps
• Oasis Sports Centre (Covent Garden) — Better · Maps
• Charlton Lido & Lifestyle Club (Charlton) — Better · Maps
• Hillingdon Outdoor Pool (Uxbridge) — Better · Maps
• Park Road Lido (Crouch End) — Haringey Council · Maps
• Pools on the Park (Richmond) — Springhealth Leisure · Maps
• Hampton Pool (Hampton) — hamptonpool.co.uk · Maps

Outside the M25

• Heron Lake (Wraysbury, just off J13) — swimheron.co.uk · Maps
• Bray Lake (Maidenhead) — braylakeswimming.com · Maps
• Shepperton Open Water Swim (Middlesex) — sheppertonopenwaterswim.co.uk · Maps
• Chipstead Lake (Sevenoaks) — triswim.org.uk · Maps
• Denham Waterski Club (London/Bucks border) — Maps
• Divers Cove (Godstone, Surrey) — Maps
• Trifarm (Boreham, Chelmsford) — trifarm.co.uk · Maps
• Swim Lakeside (Thurrock) — 400m loop next to Lakeside shopping centre. Extremely Britcore. swimlakeside.co.uk · Maps
• Luxborough Lake (Chigwell) — beenduranceopenwater.com · Maps
• Quay Swim (Mytchett, Surrey) — quayswim.co.uk · Maps

Phew.

As promised, some pics sent by our lovely swimmers from their bank holiday swims:

Upcoming London Swims & Events

• Sexy Summer Soirée @ Brockwell Lido (@chilly.dippers x @girlydips x @swim_peeps) — Saturday, 6 June (buy tix here)
• Mama Dips @ Brockwell Lido (@chilly.dippers) — Wednesday, 10 June (buy tix here)
• Queer Swim @ Hampstead Heath Mixed Pond (@queer.swim) — every Wednesday evening + Saturday, 13 June
• Social Swim @ West Reservoir Centre (@swim_peeps) — Saturday, 20 June
• Feel Good Friday Dip @ Brockwell Lido (@girlydips) — Friday, 26 June

Happy swims everyone. Sax x

Bobbing Along #16