Ponds To Pastries — A Local's Guide To The Ultimate Swim Saturday In London

January 27, 2026

Bobbing Along #12

A Local's Guide To The Ultimate Swim Saturday In London

As an unabashed Highgate local it won't surprise you to hear that I often plan my weekends around a swim at Hampstead Heath.

Sounds pretty simple right? Well it's not — I have in fact crafted an entire weekend day trip itinerary around this simple premise, which I intend to share with you here.

(P.S. This works best on a Saturday, for reasons you will discover below.)

My Guide To The Best Swim Day Trip In London

Step 1 — Travel to Highgate

Your swim odyssey begins in Highgate — easily accessible via the Northern Line to Highgate tube station, or by one of the many buses that weave their way up the A1 or into Highgate Village.

At this stage you will need a coffee (v important) and I can recommend no better place than Food Room on the Archway Road, just across from the tube station. One of London's cosiest independent cafes with a selection of delicious homemade baked goods (especially the cookies, they are unreal).

Step 2 — Walk to Hampstead Heath

There are many ways to get to Hampstead Heath from Highgate, but having done this a million times now there is in fact one best route. And that is via a private road called Fitzroy Park, accessible by Fitzroy Gate on The Grove (just behind Highgate Village).

I actually posted a video about this route a while back because it is so fascinating to me. It's got a full-blown allotment, a private bowls club and some of the fanciest houses in North London — not to mention several "BEWARE OF DOG" signs, which kinda gives away the vibe.

Step 3 — Choose your Swim Spot

Hampstead Heath is my favourite place in London for a swim, not least because of the beautiful surrounds, but also because there are several options to choose from.

The famed Kenwood Ladies' Pond and Highgate Mens' Pond are gender-segregated bathing ponds open all year. There is also the Hampstead Mixed Pond — this is officially closed during the winter, but I have heard whispers of a local winter swim club that uses the pond through the winter...

Another option is the Parliament Hill Lido — home to one of my favourite swim clubs, the Chilly Dippers — a 60 metre open-air pool which is again open all year round.

Parliament Hill Lido swim club chilly dippers

Highgate Mens' Pond & me with Liv from the Chilly Dippers.

Step 4 — Peruse the Farmers' Market

Post-swim I'd recommend walking up to the Parliament Hill Viewpoint for one of the best views over London (Primrose Hill move aside pls).

You can then wander down to the Parliament Hill Farmers' Market in William Ellis School — open only on Saturdays (!!) from 10am-2pm — where you'll find an assortment of artisan produce and other goodies.

(They've also got this hilarious doggie crèche where all the pups are left to hang out while their owners devour pastries.)

Step 5 — Choose Your Next Adventure

The world is now your oyster.

If you're still in a brunchy / coffee / pastry mood you can wander over to the nearby Swain's Lane for cafes and bakeries galore. There is also the famous Highgate Cemetery to check out if you continue walking up Swain's Lane back towards Highgate.

Perhaps you fancy taking things in a more lubricated direction, in which case there are several pubs I'd recommend. The Flask is a lovely pub with a nice outdoors bit (heated in the winter), especially if you fancy a Guinness. The Red Lion & Sun has one of the best roasts in London if you are there on a Sunday (do book though, it is popular).

Finally there is my personal favourite, The Highgate Inn, a proper Irish pub on the Archway Road which runs late on Saturdays. There's a lot I could say about this place, but I might just leave it to you to experience.

Upcoming London Swim Club Events

I'm trying a new thing with this newsletter, where I'm going to start shouting out ALL the upcoming swim clubs & events in London, not just our own stuff. (We of course have our own social swim club, which you can join here or by dropping us a DM on socials.)

If there are any other swim clubs I should be including in this list please let me know!!

Swim Peeps (@swim_peeps)

Social Swims @ West Reservoir Centre — 8 & 22 February
Social Sauna Eves @ Community Sauna Baths — 11 & 18 February

Chilly Dippers (@chilly.dippers)

Sauna & Dip @ Lowlu Sauna Kentish Town — 1 February
The Girly Chilly Dip (w/ @girlydips) @ Brockwell Lido — 7 February

Girly Dips (@girlydips)

Galentine's Dip @ Brockwell Lido — 13 February

Queer Swim (@queer.swim)

Sauna @ Hackney Wick Community Sauna — 1 February

A Few Other Bits & Bobs

I'm putting together a Swim Club Directory with all the social swim clubs in London and, eventually, other cities in the UK & the world. The idea was inspired by some of the overseas peeps who have joined us for a social swim while visiting London — something that I personally thought was pretty cool. If there are any swim clubs you think should be included pls pls drop me a message!

Also want to give a massive shoutout to Grooves For Good (@grooves4good) for another banging collab @ The Old Dispensary last weekend. Keep your eyes on our socials for some pics & vids — something tells me that won't be the last one we do...