Ironmonger Row Baths (© Rob Greig)
Great pools? From marble-clad baths dripping in history to modern leisure centres echoing with lifeguards' whistles, London is swimming in them. Time Out takes a skinny dipping tour of the capital
Ironmonger Row Baths (© Rob Greig)
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Central
Best for… swimming in history
Ironmonger Row Baths
1-11 Ironmonger Row, EC1 (020 7253 4011/www.aquaterra.org) Old St tube.
Despite
regular updating, this Grade II-listed 1930s building has kept all its
charm. Beneath a stunning top-lit ceiling, wooden spectator benches
look down on the 30-metre pool and smaller teaching pool. The public
laundry has survived, with its traditional ironing presses alongside
washing machines and tumble driers. And the Turkish baths are among the
few left in the capital: there’s a steam room, three hot rooms, an icy
plunge pool, relaxation areas and marble slabs for no-nonsense body
scrubs and massages. You can also learn to dive with the Clidive
Sub-Aqua Club (www.clidive.org).
Open Mon-Fri 6.30am-9.30pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm.
Cost £3.70; Turkish baths £7.70-£12.80.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Functional.
Sting factor Chlorine levels vary from 1.3 to 2.3 parts per million.
Goosebumps or lobsters? Water is kept comfortably warm, between 27C and 28C.
Dive in afterwards…
No café, although the kitchen in the Turkish baths sometimes offers tea
and biscuits. But Whitecross Street has lots of nice eating options.
If it’s rammed… Highbury Pool, Highbury Crescent, N5 (020 7704 2312/www.aquaterra.org) Highbury & Islington tube.
Feature continues
Serpentine Lido
Hyde Park, W2 (020 7706 3422/www.serpentinelido.com). Hyde Park Corner tube.
Situated in the heart of Hyde Park, fresh water-favouring swimmers get dressed next to banks full of daisies and the odd goosefeather. Lidos need less chlorine than indoor pools due to their colder temperature, but the chlorine still makes the water slightly harsh. By contrast the Serpentine, being freshwater, is regenerative, having the same effect on the complexion as being hugged: any discordant molecules are soothed back into line.
Open June 5 to September 11, 10am-6pm.
Cost £3.75 (adults), 90p (children), £2.75 (concs). After 4pm: £3.00 (adults), 70p (children), £2.00 (concs).
Oasis Sports Centre
32 Endell St, WC2 (020 7831 1804/www.camden.gov.uk) Tottenham Court Rd tube.
Open Mon-Fri 6.30am-9pm; Sat, Sun 9.30am-5pm.
Cost £3.30.
Golden Lane Leisure Centre
Golden Lane Estate, Fann St, EC1 (020 7250 1464) Barbican tube/rail.
Open Mon, Tues, Fri 7am-8.30pm; Wed, Thur 7am-9.30pm; Sat, Sun 8am-4pm.
Cost £3.40.
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| Laboratory Spa & Health Club (© Lisa Payne) |
North
Best for… perfecting your stroke
Laboratory Spa & Health Club
The Avenue, N10 (020 8482 3000/www.labspa.co.uk) Highgate tube then 43/134 bus.
In
the shadow of Alexandra Palace, this former British Rail lab is now a
gym and spa. The 25-metre ozone-treated pool is rarely crowded and is a
pleasure to swim in. It’s also the base for Steven Shaw’s acclaimed
‘Art of Swimming’ courses. A classy gym, a range of therapies and a great
café complete the upmarket package.
Open Mon-Fri 7am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-9pm.
Cost On application; ‘Art of Swimming’ courses £150 for six weeks.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Stylish and comfy.
Sting factor Chlorine levels are a comfortable 1 part per million.
Goosebumps or lobsters? Balmy at 28C.
Dive in afterwards… The salad bar sells wraps, baguettes and booze.
If it’s rammed… Park Road Pools, Park Rd, N8 (020 8341 3567/www.haringey.gov.uk/leisure) Hornsey rail.
Best for… family fun
Finchley Lido Leisure Centre
Great North Leisure Park, Chaplin Square, N12 (020 8343 9830/www.gll.org) East Finchley tube.
The
original outdoor pool closed in 1992, but was redeveloped four years
later with a cinema, bowling centre and restaurants. The lido is
now far smaller, but still has a grassy terrace. Indoors, swimmers can plough up and down the main pool or enjoy the leisure pool’s wave machine and huge picture windows.
Open Mon-Fri 6.45am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-5pm.
Cost £5.15.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Recently refurbished.
Sting factor Chlorine levels are 1.4 parts per million.
Goosebumps or lobsters? A tropical 29C.
Dive in afterwards… to soup and sarnies.
If it’s rammed… Fountain Leisure Centre, 658 Chiswick High Rd, TW8 (0845 456 6675/www.hounslow.info). Kew Bridge rail.
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| Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre (© Andrew Brackenbury) |
Best for… sparkling design
Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre
Adelaide Rd, NW3 (020 7974 2012/www.gll.org) Swiss Cottage tube.
Earlier
this year, Time Out named Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, which reopened
in 2006 as part of a wider local regeneration project, the best place
in London for a workout. We described the centre as ‘a gem in both
sporting and architectural terms that really does offer something for
everyone’. Swimmers are superbly catered for with a bright, smart,
eight-lane 25-metre main pool and 20-metre adjustable-depth teaching
pool to one side.
Open Mon-Fri 6.30am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-6pm.
Cost £3.75.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Spacious and tidy.
Sting factor Chlorine levels are 1.3 parts per million.
Goosebumps or lobsters? A balmy 28C.
Dive in afterwards… A café sells tea, coffee and simple hot meals such as pasta.
If it’s rammed… Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds, Millfield Lane, NW5 (020 7485 4491/www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/openspaces) Gospel Oak rail.
Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds
Hampstead Heath, NW5 (020 7485 4491/www.cityoflondon.gov.uk) Hampstead Heath rail.
Open all day.
Cost £2.
Parliament Hill Lido
Parliament Hill Fields, Gordon House Rd, NW5 (020 7485 3873) Gospel Oak rail.
Open Mon-Sun 7-9am, 10am-6pm; Mon, Thur, Fri 6.45-8pm.
Cost £2 (early or late slots) or £4.30 (middle slot).
Laboratory Spa Hendon
14 Hall Lane, NW4 (020 8201 5500/www.labspa.co.uk) Hendon Central tube, then bus 113 or 186.
Open Mon-Fri 6.30am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-10pm.
Adm £91 for month membership.
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| Tooting Bec Lido (© Michael Franke) |
South
Best for… uninterrupted swimming
Tooting Bec Lido
Tooting Bec Rd, SW16 (020 8871 7198/www.wandsworth.gov.uk) Tooting Bec tube.
This
is the undisputed daddy of all London lidos, both in terms of size – at
91.5 metres, it’s the second biggest outdoor freshwater pool in Europe
– and reputation. As one of the London Pools Campaign assessors put it:
‘Best thing: everything. Worst thing: nothing’. The lido’s regulars
love its vastness and the chance to swim endless lengths without
jostling or interruption; families with young children, meanwhile,
appreciate the paddling pool. And everyone adores the vibrant changing
cubicle doors along the sides of the pool. The South London Swimming
Club (www.slsc.org.uk) has been based here since 1908.
Open 6am-8pm daily.
Cost £3-£4.50.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Cubicles along the pool.
Sting factor Chlorine levels are a fairly high 2 parts per million.
Goosebumps or lobsters? Rather chilly.
Dive in afterwards… Sandwiches are available, though the café closes in bad weather.
If it’s rammed… Putney Leisure Centre, Dryburgh Rd, SW15 (020 8785 0388/www.dcleisurecentres.co.uk) Putney rail.
Brockwell Park Lido
Dulwich Rd, SE24 (020 7274 3088/www.brockwelllido.com) Herne Hill rail.
Open Mon-Fri 6.45am-6/7/8pm (weather dependent); Sat, Sun 12noon-6pm.
Cost £2.50 (morning swim), £4 or £5 (weather dependent).
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
Ledrington Rd, SE19 (020 8778 0131/www.gll.org) Crystal Palace rail.
Open Mon-Fri 6.45am-10pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-6pm.
Cost £2.20 (before 5pm) or £3.90 (after 5pm).
Waterfront Leisure Centre
Woolwich High St, SE18 (020 8317 5000/www.gll.org) North Woolwich rail.
Open Mon-Fri 7am-11pm; Sat, Sun 8am-9.30pm.
Cost £1.40-£1.80.
Central | North | South | East | West
East
Best for… an early-morning dip
London Fields Lido
London Fields Westside, E8 (020 7254 9038/www.londonfieldsusergroup.org.uk) London Fields rail.
The
London Fields User Group (LFUG) spent 18 years saving this glorious
1930s Olympic-sized lido from the bulldozers. Hackney Council adopted
many of LFUG’s renovation proposals and the pool reopened in October
2006 to widespread acclaim. The original low red-brick buildings
disguise the 50-metre pool, with its cheerful lockers and bunting.
Families throng the place at weekends, but an early-morning dip is one
of east London’s secret pleasures.
Open Mon-Fri 6.30am-8pm; Sat, Sun 6.30am-5pm.
Cost £2.70-£3.85.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Inside or outside.
Sting factor Chlorine levels are 1.5 parts per million (the UV light also kill germs).
Goosebumps or lobsters? A mild 26C.
Dive in afterwards… to tea, coffee and sandwiches – but they stop serving if it rains.
If it’s rammed… Clissold Leisure Centre, 63 Clissold Rd, N16 (020 7254 5574/www.hackney.gov.uk) Manor House tube.
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| Virgin Active Canary Riverside (© Rob Greig) |
Best for… plush plunging Virgin Active
Canary Riverside
34 West Ferry Circus, Canary Wharf, E14 (020 7513 2999/www.virginactive.co.uk) Canary Wharf tube.
If
you need a break from making money, the 20-metre pool at this Virgin
Active club will help bring your blood pressure under control. Perched
alongside the Thames, in a building with glass walls, it appears to
extend into the river.
Open Mon-Thur 6am-11pm, Fri 6am-10pm, Sat 8am-9pm, Sun 9am-9pm.
Cost On application.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Underfloor heating.
Sting factor Chlorine levels are 1.3 parts per million.
Goosebumps or lobsters? A warming 27C.
Dive in afterwards… to the organic cafe with fruit juice, salads and a view of the Thames.
If it’s rammed… Golden Lane Leisure Centre, Fann St, EC1 (020 7250 1464/www.cityoflondon.gov.uk) Barbican tube.
East Ham Leisure Centre
324 Barking Rd, E6 (020 8548 5850/www.gll.org) East Ham tube.
Open Mon-Fri 7am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-5pm.
Cost £1.10-£3.35
St George’s Swimming Pool
John Orwell Sports Centre, Tench St, E1W (020 7488 9421/www.towerhamlets.gov.uk) Wappng tube.
Open Mon-Fri 7am-9pm; Sat, Sun 8am-6pm.
Cost £2.40-£3.80.
York Hall Leisure Centre
5-15 Old Ford Rd, E2 (020 8980 2243/www.gll.org) Bethnal Green tube.
Open Mon-Fri 7am-9.30pm, Sat 8am-8.30pm, Sun 8am-7.30pm.
Cost £1.30-£4.10.
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| Hampton Pool (© Rob Greig) |
West
Best for… all-year-round dips
Hampton Open-Air Pool
High Street, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 (020 8255 1116/www.hamptonpool.co.uk) Hampton rail.
This
36-metre pool in Bushy Park dates from 1922. Like many old recreational
facilities, it was closed by the local council during the 1980s – but a
local community action group prevented its demolition. It’s now
operated by a not-for-profit trust and was fully renovated four years
ago. It boasts a learner pool, gym and sunbathing area. Uniquely, it’s
open 365 days a year with 1,000-odd swimmers enjoying a dip on
Christmas Day before tucking into the turkey.
Open Mon-Fri 6am-9pm; Sat, Sun 9am-5pm.
Cost £4.50-£6.20.
Ch-ch-ch-changing? Clean and practical.
Sting factor Chlorine levels are high-ish, at 2 parts per million.
Goosebumps or lobsters? Toasty, at 28C all year round.
Dive in afterwards… There’s an après-swim menu of soft drinks and sandwiches.
If it’s rammed… Pools on the Park, Twickenham Rd, Richmond TW9 (020 8940 0561/www.springhealth.net) Richmond tube/rail.
Richmond Pools on the Park
Old Deer Park, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 (020 8940 0561/www.springhealth.net). Richmond tube/rail.
Surrounded by palm trees and pampas grass, these half lido, half gym pools are part of a 1970s prefab sports centre and are usually steaming with workers getting on with their laps while planes loom overhead every few minutes from Heathrow.
Open Mon 6.30am-7.45pm; Tue-Fri 6.30am-8pm, Sat, Sun 7am-5.45pm
Cost Adult £3.90, child £3.20
Acton Swimming Baths
Salisbury St, W3 (020 8992 8877/www.gll.org) Acton Central rail/207, 607, 266, E3 bus.
Open Mon-Fri 7am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-6pm.
Cost £1.65-£4.80.
Gurnell Leisure Centre
Ruislip Rd East, W13 (020 8998 3241/www.gll.org) Perivale tube/Castle Bar Park rail/E7, E9, E10 bus.
Open Mon-Fri 7am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-5pm.
Cost £1.65-£3.35.
Porchester Centre
Queensway, W2 (020 7792 2919/www.westminster.gov.uk) Royal Oak or Bayswater tube.
Open 6.30am-10pm; Sat, Sun 8am-8pm.
Cost £4.85.
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20 comments
Finchley Lido, don't know what it was like but nowadays it has a lane pool, a fun pool which is like a beach (you walk in and it gradually gets deeper), a small jacuzzi and a sauna. The changing rooms are poor, there are no hairdryers except one in the toilet where there is hardly any space and it smells. They leave the garden doors open all the time and the draught is very unpleasant for swimmers or people in changing rooms. The floors are always wet - never seen anyone come to sweep them. As for cafe, it is not worth a visit, first of all ALL seats are wet and they are sponge seats, not just plastic that you can wipe dry - whoever thought of that?!! There is a small swimming pool outside which operates in high summer but basically do not except too much so you won't be disappointed. For an unbeatable swimming pool, try Potters Bar Furzehill Centre. Bit of a distance but well worth your time and money.
Gurnell Leisure Centre Swimming Pool has a reputation for verrucas... every childI have ever met, who has been there has got one or several verrucas in the hands of feet... And some of the staff have actually encouraged people to pass urine directly in there, as "everybody does it anyway".. also no hourly checks of chlorine levels at all! What a waste of facilities!
I have seen the advert to the Turkish bath, Ironmonger Row Baths and was really interested with the information disclosed there.
I decided to try it this Saturday 06th of September. I was completely shocked with the place. The smell was horrible from the moment we stepped in the lockers room. I could not understand how you can say in your website that this is one of the top 5 places in London. It might have been long time ago, but now all we could see was a filthy and stinky place. I am sorry if it sounds bad, but I was expecting at least hygienic place. There are not even shower gels in the only two showers available. The resting areas are dreadful. This place shouldn't even be mentioned anywhere as a recommendation, it damages any one's reputation. This info is about the Turkish baths only. We have not used any other facilities in that centre. After all we just wanted to leave the place as soon as possible!
Porschester pool is crap. I almost drowned there. The lifeguads are never at pool side.
message for scootergirl, sadly it's been turned into a Garden Centre, makes your heart bleed.
Finchley lido is only open at the weekends during June - not sure about the rest of the summer.
Is there any pools without Chlorine. Have Asthma. Lungs are aggrovated by Chlorine especially in ashma sufferers
What aboutr Barnet Copthal not sure?
F.Y.I. The write up on the Ironmonger Baths is very missleading which makes me wonder if the person that wrote the article has actually stepped foot inside the place!!
Two vital points that are missed are:
1. The swimming pool is not open until 9:30 it shuts at 7pm.
2. The Turkish baths are only mixed on one night of the week- Monday!
This kind of information really ought to be included in the write up. As for Whitecross Street having plenty of 'nice eating options'. No. Really. NO.
Badly researched Time Out, NOT impressed at all.
London Fields Lido is heated to 26c ,the only one in London I think.
It is one of the wonders of the world.
Oops, forgot to add the url: londonfitnessnetwork.org
Hi Tattie
Glad you liked the article. In fact there is a reciprocal swimming (and gym, classes etc) arrangement between all the local authority leisure centres that are part of the London Fitness Network. 85 centres are currently involved in the scheme, so you can be a member at a centre near where you work and also near your home without having to pay twice. It's an excellent scheme that needs to become better known.
great article - excellent you include temperatures too. New favourite is Greenwich Arches - beautifully cool at 25/26 degrees, lane swimming only & fabulous old fading mural at the back. May they never do it up.
Why isn't there a swimming arrangement between all London pools? I can't justify a membership as I work in different places -and the significant variation in 'single swim' prices is shocking (don't get me started on price hikes at Queen Mother's 'leisure centre', Vauxhall Rd, now £4.85 a pop - all one needs is a pool, a shower and a drink of (tap) water afterwards - not all the other fancy facilities).
Brockwell park lido is beautiful!! Why does this not get more of a write up? Really clean, and a lovely art deco feel to it.
Whatever happened to Bounds Green Lido? Is it still open? I went there years ago and had a fabulous time diving off the high boards. The water was a touch chilly though....
Shame that Barnet council didn't respond to the protest against closing Finchley Lido, that had a beautiful cascade, fountains, a small round pool, massive grounds and a great tuck shop, not to mention the main pool which was great.....
still, nice to see this article and see how well other protesters did to keep some real gems from extinction.....
will visit some.