Best outdoor swimming spots in London: from the Serpentine to secret lidos and urban oases

Here’s some of the best locations in London to explore and enjoy.

It’s hard to believe you can swim in crystal clear water in the hub of a busy London business district surrounded by sky-high offices and floating gardens, but swimming at Eden Dock just has to be experienced.  
 
The water in the docks is not actually from the Thames, but from an underground aquifer. Swimmers are able to swim right in the heart of this urban landscape. Eden Dock is an area with interconnected pontoons and aquatic islands to connect people with nature, as well as a truly unique bathing area surrounded by tall buildings. Find out more about Eden Dock.

The Serpentine Lido is an iconic venue for open water swimming right in the middle of London. In the heart of the urban city is the beautiful green space of Hyde Park, an area of around 350 acres. In the centre of this thriving park is the Serpentine, an 850-by-160-metre purpose-built lake – the Serpentine Lido is a marked 100-by-30-metre section of this lake. The rest of the lake is reserved for boating and the local wildlife [except for one day a year when the lake plays host to Swim Serpentine!]. The lido is open at weekends from mid-May, and every day between June and mid-September. Find out more about Serpentine Lido. 

One of central London’s best-kept secrets, at Oasis Sports Centre you can swim all year round in an outdoor heated swimming pool. This hidden oasis, located in the heart of the West End, has a small sauna overlooking it, as well as patio areas, a sunbathing deck to relax on, an indoor pool and gym. The water is heated to a warm 25.5°C, and it’s the perfect place to escape for a dip amongst the bustle of the city. Find out more about Oasis Sports Centre.

Don’t miss Tooting Bec Lido in South London, where you’ll find gorgeous blue water surrounded by colourful changing cubicles. It’s famously the largest freshwater open-air swimming pool in England and contains one million gallons of clear water. Built in 1906, it is also one of Britain’s oldest open-air swimming pools. Find out more about Tooting Bec Lido.

Hampstead Heath is home to some of the best outdoor swimming spots in a unique setting in London, including three natural bathing ponds and one 60-metre lido. A dip in the ponds is a wonderful experience that thousands of Londoners and visitors alike enjoy each year.  

All the ponds are lifeguarded. The Highgate Men’s Pond and Kenwood Ladies’ Pond are open all year; Hampstead Mixed Pond is open from April until October. Find out more about Hampstead Heath Ponds.

A welcoming open-air lido, Hampton Pool is heated to a balmy 28°C all year round – you can even swim on Christmas Day! The lido has two pools and is situated in a lovely woodland area, on the outskirts of Bushy Park. Built in 1922, it was saved from closure in the 1980s by a group of local residents, who continue to take part in fundraising activities. The main pool is an unusual 36 metres in length and is a stunning bright blue – you feel like you’re on holiday abroad when you’re having a dip here. Find out more about Hampton Pool.
 

The West Reservoir Centre in Hackney offers the opportunity for open water swimming and other water sports. The water is blue-green, clear and silky smooth, dyed to prevent too much weed and blue-green algae. The circumference is lined with lush green reeds and bushes, while buildings tower above.  

It seems an unusual place to swim in quite a built-up, urban area but the lake is big, and wonderful for swimming. It’s a great place to cover various distances while coots and moorhens glide past serenely. Find out more about West Reservoir Centre.