Tired of London, Tired of Life - A website about things to do in London

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5 June 2010

Swim in Parliament Hill Lido

Opened in 1938, the Parliament Hill Lido, on Parliament Hill Fields, close to Gospel Oak railway station, is open to the public all year round.


The pool, which measures 60 metres by 28 metres, is unheated and a cafe is open during the summer months. It opened on 20 August 1938, having cost £34,000 to construct and was designed by Harry Rowbotham and TL Smithson of the London County Council Parks Department.

By 1999, the lido was Grade II Listed, and in 2003 wikipedia claims it received 49,000 visitors. For more, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_Hill_Lido

^Picture by Julian Osley^

6 comments:

  1. I didn't know about Parliament Hill Lido, even though I once knew Hampstead Heath quite well. But the idea of cold water is way too rugged for me :)

    However I am fascinated by its architecture, and by the fact that it was eventually Grade 2 listed. Thanks for your link
    Hels
    http://melbourneblogger.blogspot.com/2009/11/late-victorian-pleasure-piers-vs-inter.html

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  2. Dawn & I were there yesterday (Sunday). What a delight! We arrived about 11am and were surprised how few people were there. The brilliant stainless steel pool liner means the water is clean clean clean, bright and fresh.

    The ambience is lovely - loads of regulars, pictures of them on the wall, free secure manned cloakroom where you can leave valuables, friendly feeling.

    A trip here combined with lunch in Hamsptead and a walk on the Heath is a great day out for staycationing Londoners.

    As far as the architecture it looks like an East German sheep dip fromthe outside - but the pool itself is a sublime masterpiece

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  3. Great pool, V. clean water V. tidy poolside V. clean and shiny stainless steel liner. great atmosphere and crowd, really feels good to be swimming under the sun, even on a cold winters day!

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  4. Thanks for your input, though I'm not quite sure about the cold winters day...!

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  5. Just stumbled across this an thought I'd share my winter swim experience at Parliament Hill this weekend. The water was 0.1 degree. It was amazing - I've never done anything like it before but I'll be going again for sure. Quick write up and pics here: www.ditchthetreadmill.net

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