With then financial institution vacation weekend set to be a scorcher as temperatures creep into the 30s, all thought are going to show to find out how to keep cool. Unfortunately, Britain nonetheless doesn’t have the infrastructure that hotter climates do to maintain issues cool. Luckily for metropolis dwellers, nevertheless, there are methods to regulate the temperature regardless of our lack of air con, and probably the most standard strategies is heading to the closest water supply for a swim.
London has a stunning variety of choices, from lidos and lakes to sports activities centres and personal swimming pools, a lot of which grow to be simpler to get pleasure from in the summertime with longer opening instances and extra actions for youths on faculty holidays.
Many are additionally tailored to be accessible, with ramps, poolside hoists, poolpods and altering rooms accommodating for all, whereas those that don’t have a giant price range to spend on membership and lodge swimming pools can discover locations to swim at no cost or at a decrease price.
As the temperatures creep increased over the weekend and into subsequent week, here’s a information on the place to seek out the most effective swimming pools in London.
Lidos
London’s lidos supply a a lot sought-after alternative to chill off amid the tough summer time warmth exacerbated in sweaty, busy, built-up areas.
London Fields Lido in Hackney has a 50m Olympic-size outside swimming pool that can be heated, which is good if it will get just a little windy or chilly in the summertime months. The giant sundeck and sunbathing space are standard hangout spots when the temperature climbs to the excessive 20s, and the Hoxton Beach Cafe kiosk presents swimmers falafel salads and desserts.
Herne Hill’s Brockwell Park has a much-loved lido too, additionally residence to a 50m outside swimming pool subsequent to an Art Deco listed constructing with well being and health services inside. South London chain Four Hundred Rabbits has additionally snagged a spot poolside, serving sourdough pizza and craft beers.
Those who need a little bit of chilly water remedy ought to head to Parliament Hill’s open-air unheated lido to leap into the cooler water after a session in its sauna, whereas Tooting Bec’s lido, which prides itself on being the UK’s largest freshwater outside pool, is good for lively swimmers.
Read extra: Best outside swimming swimming pools and lidos within the UK
Charlton’s heated outdoor lido in Greenwich has a summer time solar terrace for enjoyable within the warmth, whereas its indoor pool presents actions and classes tailor-made to children of all ages.
If heading to an inner-city lido does not fairly quench your thirst to flee the concrete jungle, why not strive swimming just a little nearer to nature?
The ever-popular Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds in north London embody three pure bathing ponds, one solely for ladies’s use, one other only for males and a 3rd for all genders.
Bathers may head to London’s largest lake each day in the summertime months on the Serpentine Lido, present in one among London’s royal inexperienced areas, Hyde Park.
One of the rarer locations to swim, solely open between 1 and 21 August, is Summer Splash, which transforms the Royal Victoria Dock yearly into one among London’s most original lidos. The free, family-friendly lido is overseen by lifeguards and is full with a fake sandy seashore and deckchairs.
Leisure and sports activities centres
Pools present in leisure or sports activities centres are suited to those that don’t fancy swimming outside or will not be used to chilly water plunging, in addition to normally providing a wider vary of actions.
At Finchley Lido Leisure Centre in Barnet, children will get pleasure from hours enjoying within the leisure pool, which incorporates wave machines, jets and water cannons.
Read extra: The greatest lodges with swimming swimming pools within the UK – good for a summer time staycation
For a state-of-the-art expertise designed by award-winning architect Zaha Hadid, head to the London Aquatics Centre in Stratford to swim the place athletes received their medals through the 2012 Olympics. Lane swimmers will love the 50m competitors pool, whereas children can spend time studying to swim with their households within the equally giant coaching pool. Or head to the diving pool and launch your inside Tom Daley with platforms starting from one to 10m excessive.
For those that wish to pair escaping the summer time warmth with a swimming lesson or a pool health session, Crystal Place National Sports Centre is a perfect spot, offering a 25m coaching pool and a smaller instructing pool.
While some health centres could be a contact outdated, the fashionable and modern Britannia Leisure Centre in Hackney provides some luxurious to its indoor pool periods.
Meanwhile, the leisure centre in Leyton is undoubtedly top-of-the-line swimming pools for youths to go to, with its quick water flume and aqua play space full with waterslides and tipping buckets.
Hotel swimming pools
While lidos are perfect for a little bit of socialising in the summertime solar and leisure centres supply a spot to maintain match and for youths to burn off some steam, there are additionally swimming pools for individuals in search of a session of pure rest away from the blazing warmth.
London’s lodges are proud homeowners of a few of the greatest spas within the nation, and with that comes reposeful swimming pools with a view over the town or glowing rooftop splashabouts. Pools will not be all the time reserved for company; many supply day passes for entry to their spas.
The Corinthia’s vitality pool is present in its Biome spa on its thermal ground, the place company may make use of the sauna and steam room earlier than heading for a therapeutic massage remedy.
For a sky-high expertise, head to the Sky Pool at Shangri-La The Shard, an excellent facility 182m excessive, making it the best swimming pool in Western Europe and offering a few of the greatest cityscape views you will get whereas going for a paddle.
A bit nearer to the bottom, you can find a 25m swimming pool in Mayfair’s luxurious Mandarin Oriental spa. The pool space is scattered with lights which are mirrored on the ceiling and water to invoke a way of submerging your self in a starry sky.
If you end up staying at The Dorchester in Mayfair, head to the lodge’s heated pool full with a sauna and steam room, or spend a little bit of time within the hydrotherapy pool for final rest.
Read extra: The greatest lodges in London, from grand dames to good pubs with rooms
Spas
Not all the most effective spas are present in lodges; there are some establishments devoted solely to bathing and rejuvenating. They’re additionally typically extra inexpensive than pricy lodge day passes.
Seek out one among London’s oldest spa services, the Art Deco Porchester Spa close to Paddington Station, which has a complete vary of services from saunas to Turkish scorching rooms. Those who wish to take a dip can accomplish that on the small, giant and chilly plunge swimming pools.
If a complete vary of swimming pools is what you’re on the lookout for, head over to Aire Ancient Baths London close to Embankment to tour the thermal baths set at differing temperatures, from heat tepidarium to chilly frigiarum and the saltwater pool.
Private golf equipment
One of the principle promoting factors of a personal membership membership through the summer time months is the unique entry to swimming pools to take refuge from the sticky heat within the metropolis.
Soho House’s array of rooftop swimming pools is standard amongst those that have their arms on a membership (or know somebody who does). In Temple, 180 House‘s rooftop pool is accompanied by an outdoor terrace and views across the city, while the outdoor pool on White City House’s rooftop is lined with Malibu beach-style loungers and draped in fairy lights. Shoreditch House can be residence to a rooftop pool with skyline views.
Ten Trinity Square at the Four Seasons can be a preferred hang-out for many who can splash on non-public members’ entry, residence to a glass mosaic-tiled pool that results in a smaller heated vitality pool.
Found on prime of the Virgin London-Shoreditch lodge, the forty fifth and seventh London members’ membership additionally has an intimate rooftop pool located subsequent to its New York-style restaurant. The pool may also be utilized by lodge company.
If you’re a member of Ned’s Club on the five-star lodge The Ned, sweltering summer time temperatures will go you by whereas enjoyable within the rooftop pool or the indoor 20m pool.
This piece was first revealed in June 2025 and has been revised and up to date.