18 of the best lidos and outdoor pools in the UK
'Tis the season to take a dunk and do some outdoor swimming
Whether you're a seasonal outdoor swimmer or a hardy soul who can face the water-year round, you're not alone if you appreciate some feel-good strokes up and down a pool.
And, thankfully, you needn't travel somewhere tropical to get your outdoor swimming fix, as there are plenty of fantastic lidos and outdoor pools located up and down the UK. Read on for our list of the best, as well as the reasons why you should add swimming to your roster of cross training activities.
What are the benefits of outdoor swimming?
Swimming is an excellent supplementary exercise for runners, as it can help you to recover from injury and get stronger and faster when training for an event. Of course, when you exchange a sheltered indoor swimming pool for an outdoor lido or pool, you are more likely to experience cooler and sketchier conditions – but that's not a bad thing. In fact, various studies have shown that swimming in colder water can have a positive effect on your immune system and even reduce symptoms of depression and dementia. What's more, if you're training for a triathlon, outdoor swimming is a good way to get your body accustomed to the colder temperatures you're likely to experience on race day.
Should I wear a wetsuit when swimming outdoors?
Most lidos and outdoor pools are open throughout the year, so some swimmers choose to wear a wetsuit when swimming in these waters during the winter. However, more often than not this is purely down to personal preference – and, of course, water temperature. If you need help choosing the right one, check out our round-up of the best wetsuits.
Beckenham Place Park Swimming Lake
Location: Beckenham, BR3 1UL
Details: For an authentic wild swimming experience, make a beeline for London's first purpose-built swimming lake. Set within the capital's largest green space, this 283m-long, 45m-wide expanse of open water is the ultimate spot for a summer dip. There are lifeguards on watch and changing facilities for when your fingers and toes go wrinkly, too.
Bristol Lido
Location: Bristol, BS8 2BJ
Details: A 24m outdoor swimming pool, the Bristol Lido in Clifton is heated all year round to 22-25C, so you can look forward to balmy waters here. (It also has a sauna, steam room and hot tub.) If you're not a member, you can pre-book a two-hour session for £25, starting from 10am.
Brockwell Lido
Location: Brixton, SE24 9BJ
Details: Brockwell Lido is a 50m outdoor pool, open year-round. Unlike other lidos on this list, it isn't heated, so you might want to consider wearing a wetsuit in the winter months. Prices start at £5 per swim for concession and £8 per swim for adults, but check the price list on the website for more information. Brockwell Lido's summer temperature usually hovers around 18-20C.
Charlton Lido
Location: Greenwich, SE18 4LX
Details: It won't be hard to convince yourself to make a splash at Charlton Lido, since the water is heated to a positively tropical 25C year-round. Once you've finished lapping the Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool and soaking up rays on the dedicated sun terraces, you can then head to the state-of-the-art outdoor fitness space – fitted with Technogym equipment – or hit the open-air group cycle studio. Or, pop a wheelie around the adjacent BMX race track.
Gourock Outdoor Pool
Location: Gourock, PA19 1NQ
Details: The Gourock Outdoor Pool is the oldest heated swimming pool in Scotland. The saltwater pool is heated to 29C and is open from May to September each year, offering spectacular views of the Clyde Estuary.
Hampton Pool
Location: Hampton, TW12 2ST
Detail: Open all 12 months of the year, Hampton Pool is situated next to the beautiful Bushy Park. The main, 36m-long pool is either split into six lanes to accommodate swimmers doing laps, or split into half to allow for lane swimming on one side and family swimming and fun on the other. There is a dedicated learner pool for children and their parents, too.
Hathersage Swimming Pool
Location: Peak District, S32 1DU
Details: Hathersage Swimming Pool is nestled within the stunning scenery of the Peak District. The 30m pool is open year-round and heated to 28C, with prices sitting at £7.50 per session for adults and £4 per session for children aged 4-17.
Helmsley Open Air Pool
Location: North Yorkshire, YO62 5HT
Details: As Yorkshire's only heated outdoor swimming pool, this countryside gem is something of a rarity. The 25m pool is set within idyllic gardens in the village of Helmsley, which is sheltered beneath the remains of a medieval castle and makes an ideal base for exploring the surrounding North York Moors National Park. From moonlight swims to aquathlons, the pool offers plenty of unique activities in addition to regular swimming.
Jesus Green Lido
Location: Cambridge, CB4 3AX
Details: The first thing you'll notice about Jesus Green Lido is its unusual shape. Designed to imitate the adjacent River Cam, it is significantly longer than it is wide and, at 91m, shares the title of the 'longest outdoor swimming pool in Europe' with Tooting Bec Lido in London. There's ample sunbathing space for when you've managed an entire length, plus a newly-built sauna and café for your post-swim refuel.
Jubilee Pool
Location: Penzance, TR18 4FF
Details: Jubilee Pool is an outdoor triangular seawater pool in Cornwall, measuring 98m in length and 56m in width. Since it's a seawater pool, it's not heated, and opening times vary by month according to demand and the natural light available.
London Fields Lido
Location: Hackney, E8 3EU
Details: London Fields Lido is a 50m outdoor heated swimming pool with floodlights, allowing you to swim in all conditions (should you want to). For non-members, it costs £6 for adults and £3.5o for children aged 3-15 to go for a swim here.
Parliament Hill Lido
Location: Parliament Hill Fields, NW5 1LT
Details: Parliament Hill Lido – also known as Hampstead Heath Lido – is a 61m unheated swimming pool, open all year round. In winter months, you can only swim between 7am and midday, so remember to plan morning visits during these months. Prices for an adult swim start at £4.70, but you can see all the prices on the website here.
Sanford Parks Lido
Location: Cheltenham, GL53 7PU
Details: Open all year round – but only heated in the summer –Sanford Parks Lido is a 50m outdoor pool in Cheltenham. Offering everything from swimming lessons to SUP yoga, lifeguarding training to aqua aerobics, there's plenty to dip your toes into here. There's also a children's pool (heated to 30C) for babies and children up to 8 years old.
Serpentine Lido
Location: Hyde Park, W2 2UH
Details: Set in the heart of Hyde Park in central London, the Serpentine Lido is open for public swimming on weekends from mid-May, and every day between June and mid-September. Members of Serpentine Swimming Club – the oldest swimming club in Britain – swim here every day in the early morning and are always around for the famous dip on Christmas Day.
Shap Swimming Pool
Location: Cumbria, CA10 3NS
Details: Situated 900ft above sea level, Shap is dubbed England's highest outdoor swimming pool, but we're assured that the water is heated to a toasty 26C. Measuring just 16.5m long with a maximum depth of 1.5m, the pool is small compared to the other options on this list – although, given the location, it's a watertight sell after a day spent hiking in the Lake District. For reference, the showers are coin-operated, so make sure you stock up on spare change.
Thames Lido
Location: Reading, RG1 8FR
Details: This 25m pool is heated to 24-26C all year round, so you're unlikely to need a wetsuit here. If you're not a member, you can pre-book a session here and make the most of a swim, the sauna, a massage, a manicure or pedicure... Whatever activity or pamper-based treat you wish.
Tinside Lido
Location: Plymouth, PL1 3DE
Details: An outdoor saltwater pool, Tinside Lido is open between May and September each year. There's a shallow end and a deep end, as well as a number of water features.
Tooting Bec Lido
Location: Tooting Bec, SW16 1RU
Details: The joint-largest outdoor lido in the UK with Jesus Green Lido in Cambridge, Tooting Bec Lido is unheated, so you might want to warm up a little before jumping in. That said, if you do want to use the lido in the winter, you'll need to be a member of the South London Swimming Club. Non-members pay £8.30 for a swim in the summer months.
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