With another hot balmy weekend on the horizon, what could be better than to jump into some outdoor water close to home? Amongst London’s array of outdoor swimming, we’ve selected the finest Lido’s for design, because, of course, a weekend wouldn’t feel right to us if it didn’t have design points.
These Lidos are beauts for their classic turn of the century and art deco architecture and design. What’s more, they don’t cost the earth.
Brockwell Lido, Herne Hill, South London:
An art Deco Grade II-listed Lido Café, offering summer screenings and an Olympic length pool amongst other amenities.
Hillingdon Sports & Leisure Complex, Gatting Way, Uxbridge:
The 1930s in all its glory. The entire site looks like it’s jumped straight out of a Hockney, or a Wes Anderson shot. The pink tones perfectly reflect the white structured facade above.
Parliament Hill Lido, Hampstead Heath:
The only outdoor pool in the UK with a stainless steel liner which means the water gives off an ethereal shimmer. What’s more, the buildings behind are perfectly symmetrical, offering something to gaze over in the hot heat.
Tooting Bec Lido, South London:
Once you get over the Instagrammable painted doors of the changing cubicles at Tooting Bec Lido you realise it’s huge; coming in at over 90m it’s Europe’s largest outdoor pool.
Oasis Sports Centre, Covent Garden, 32 Endell St:
A Lido quite literally in the middle of an urban oasis.
