I went for my first lido swim of the year yesterday at Parliament Hill Lido on Hampstead Heath. It's my local lido and I do love it. But I wish it was heated. The water was 14˚ yesterday. Pretty cold, but warmer than Kenwood Ladies Pond where I did my first two outdoor swims of the year, thinking it would be warmer than the lido. It wasn't. It was 11˚ there at the weekend and so cold you couldn't breathe for the first few seconds after getting in.
Still, I'm not complaining. Cold as it is, it's just lovely to swim in the fresh air, in a huge clean pool, with only a couple of other people in it. And I do love the 1930s design of the place.
It doesn't have the facilities of other lidos such as London Fields, where not only is the water heated but they have fancy coffee on sale. But styrofoam cups of builders tea at my lido are only 60p, and you can't argue with that when your toes are freezing.
For anyone shivering whilst looking at these photos, yeah. This is why I'm always banging on about how I'd like to live somewhere like Los Angeles. Isn't being British and having to seek our pleasures in this way a bloody pain in the arse?*
Cool changing rooms, though. All the details about visiting the lido are here.
*Actually, I am complaining, aren't I?
This post made me a little bit sad as it reminded me of the lido in Finchley that I used to go to as a kid. They knocked it down to build a Burger King and other business park "essentials". As well as the Deco architecture and the lovely lawns (it even had a huge shallow infinity pool)the main thing I remember is how cold it was - even in the height of summer. Happy days...
ReplyDeleteHow fantastic -- what a quintessentially English thing it is to swim in the lido. And how brave. Summer must be here.
ReplyDeleteMiss W x
wow, you're brave. I love swimming but i'm a cold-water wuss! i bet it's cheaper than paying full-whack for a gym only to use the pool, though. maybe when it gets a little warmer i'll try it...
ReplyDeleteWow you are brave. Either that, or I'm a wuss. Probably the latter. Love pools like these and those changing rooms are pretty cool too.
ReplyDeletewhat a fabulous place!!! we have a public pool at the bottom of the hill where we live, but it's no where near this nice. that said, if the twins haven't arrived by the time i'm done with work at the end of july, i plan on spending every afternoon there, just floating about and attempting to feel weightless! HA!
ReplyDeletehow are you enjoying your post-work life???
I've always wanted to swim in the Hampstead Ladies Pond as I feel it is one of those London things to do, never did it when I lived in London, well if you can call Richmond London. I've got it on my list to things to do this summer with a couple of friends as we are planning a jaunt from West Sussex. Can you recommend any nice cafes or other places to eat in Hampstead? (eg I really like Patersham Nurseries so that kind of place). Anything else you would suggest to do while up that direction? Obviously Highgate cemetary but anything else?
ReplyDeleteLooks fab, but makes me shiver with the water being so cold. Brave woman! Totally agree with you about having to search out pools and other pleasures. Thats what I love about visiting hot places - everything is there - pools, beaches, outdoor movies, parks set up with grills so anyone can bbq - love that kind of life.
ReplyDeleteit reminds me of the Tooting Lido, love the deco look.
ReplyDeleteI saw this on twitter and thought what on earth is a 'lido'?! It is just an outdoor pool? I know of one in North Berwick in Scotland that a pool that's part of the sea but no-one goes in it - Scotland is far too chilly for that! Good pics though :)
ReplyDelete(Also must confess to reading the word 'lido' as about 5 other things!)
Ahhh.. your posts make me nostalgic about London & I live here. :) Are you ever going to post any of the Book here?
ReplyDeleteI love this, I looks so great, I wish I had made a visit when I was in London ..... maybe next time !!!
ReplyDeletelove the last image
ReplyDeleteLove this Lido.... brings back memories I uses to swim here over 50 years ago... twice a week after school.... winter and summer.
ReplyDeleteWill always remember the bread and dripping in the cafe after my swim in the winter......bliss.
so good but got a life burn from there and severer sun burns
ReplyDeletegreat pool
ReplyDelete