The Best Pool Parties in London

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I genuinely had my hopes that London would give us one last summertime vibes before the summer ended and here it is folks! To celebrate, we’ve come up with a list of our favourite spots where to have a little dip whilst enjoying this glorious weather (and possibly a glass of Rose). All organised by areas so that you don’t get lost!

Happy days,

TCB xx

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EAST LONDON

In our opinion East London has some of the best pools or lidos (as they call it in England) in the city, though I may be biased since we are all from East London over here :) From public to private pools, you’ll find something for every budget. One thing is for sure: get a booking in place or else prepare to cue for a couple of hours.

London Fields Lido is probably THE place to be when it comes to East London. Definitely a people watching spot but equally a great space to swim in warm waters all year round as the pool is kept at an average temperature of 26 degrees all year. Entry cost comes at the bargain of 6GBP.

Hackney Marshes is the unofficial lido of 2020. Tucked away in the fields of these massive green, you’ll find people swimming in the River Lea like we’ve gone back in time. This is usually not allowed given all the industry running near the rivers, making the water not appropriate for swimming. However, given this year has caused most of these manufacturing plants to close or pause, locals have been able to get a dip in this part of town.

Stoke Newington’s West Reservoir Center (next to Woodberry’s Wetlands) is a great choice for those who like swimming in the nature. You can not only swim here but also take sailing and kayaking courses! Only thing will say is that for our Mediterranean blood this water is rather on the cold side, so make sure it’s a hot day before you dip in :)

Lastly, the only private pool worth mentioning in East is Shoreditch House. Walking into this rooftop pool will make you feel like living in a Hollywood movie. Red and white stripe sun loungers by the pool and fabulous cocktails for fabulous and creative people is all you’ll find here. Make sure you have a member friend who can take you! The Curtain Hotel also has a beautiful rooftop pool (exclusive only to members and hotel guests), but Shoreditch House is definitely the biggest player.

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NORTH LONDON

North London comes second in our ranking of favourite outdoor pools in the city, and that is probably because of Hampstead Heath´s Ponds. Difficult to find if you are just walking by, this magnificent green space has hidden not one but three ponds within it. A gentlemen’s pond, also known for its funky business inside it; a ladies pond (Kenwood’s Ladies Pond) that reminds us of what it could have been living in the 50s; and a mixed pond, much easier to find, but equally much more busy and less entertaining than the other two. These are natural pools, that means you’ll be swimming in stagnant (though crystal clear and sulpha clean) water, probably with some ducklings around! We find it adorable. You can book your ticket for the beautiful price of 4GBP on the link here

Parliament Hill Fields lido is also another great option for a more standard public pool. Spacious and clean, a perfect option for an afterwork dip. Also it’s only 3-4GBP an entry, kind of unbeatable at that price! At the time of this post, the link to book your ticket is this one

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SOUTH LONDON

We are no experts in the South-West London part of town, but we have lots of good friends that do! And they’ve recommended 3 great choices for the southern side of London. All are public and pretty big lidos, accessible all day and with some courses afterwork. Again, make sure you book your slot or you may be waiting for hours to get in!

  • Brockwell Lido

  • Tooting Bec Lido

  • Hampton Pool



WEST LONDON

We must say, unless you are willing to spend the dollah, you’ll struggle to find a good public pool in West London. Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park is probably your best bet. However, this is not our favorite and therefore would not recommend a day out here. It is crowded, noisy and not necessarily the cleanest spot.

Having said that, there are a couple of private pools worth mentioning.

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  • The Berkeley Hotel near Knightsbridge has an excellent rooftop pool where for the expensive tag price of 150GBP you’ll get a full-day pass (or 45GBP for a half-day pass) in one of the most exclusive pools in town. Needless to say, it’s beautiful, and you’ll feel part of a Wes Anderson movie. The service is, of course, on point.

  • Similarly to Shoreditch House, White City House has a fab rooftop for those members and friends of the exclusive Soho House.

And that’s all for now, folks. Enjoy the sunshine!

TCB xx