The cool shock of the water, the open sky above the peculiar tranquility of an outdoor pool on a warm English morning all contribute to a certain kind of happiness. For this kind of thing, Richmond Upon Thames is located in one of London’s better neighborhoods. The options available here are definitely worth learning about, regardless of whether you’re a regular lane swimmer or just want to float around on a Sunday afternoon.
The most comprehensive facility in the vicinity is likely “Pools on the Park” on Twickenham Road. Located in Old Deer Park and only a short stroll from Richmond station, it has a year-round 33-meter indoor pool and a 33-meter outdoor lido. An outdoor pool that doesn’t close in October conveys a message about the type of swimmer for whom it was designed in a way that is almost subtly defiant.
In addition, the location features a teaching pool, a gym, group exercise classes with aqua and Les Mills programs a café for post-workout rewards. It’s possible that for many Richmond locals, this location is just “the” neighborhood pool familiar, dependable more adaptable than it first seems.
“Hampton Pool” is a few miles away and offers something completely different. Located on the edge of Bushy Park within two acres of woodland, the 36-meter heated lido is open year-round and maintains a constant temperature of 28°C.
There is a large grassy space for picnics and a learner paddling pool for younger kids. It feels more like a neighborhood secret where locals nod to one another across the lanes than a recreation center. Although the parking lot is small and should be planned around, it is accessible from a large portion of southwest London because it is less than four miles from Kingston-upon-Thames.
“Brockwell Lido” in Herne Hill, located further into London proper, is housed inside Grade II-listed art deco structures and attracts a loyal following. Surrounded by evolving architecture, the 50-meter pool has a café that’s worth seeing even if you don’t want to swim.
It has more social significance than a typical recreational pool because it’s one of those locations that always seems to have something going on, like movie nites or neighborhood gatherings. Although it’s a bit of a walk from Richmond, it’s well worth it on a perfect summer Saturday.
It is located further east in Hackney, “London Fields Lido” is worth mentioning because it is one of the few truly heated outdoor pools in London that is open year-round and currently receives over 340,000 visitors each year. It takes a lot of preparation to secure a spot on a sunny weekend; it’s been likened to purchasing tickets to Glastonbury, which is both ridiculous and telling. It’s a benchmark for serious outdoor swimsuits.
Nearer to home, the “Serpentine Lido” in Hyde Park allows you to swim in a real London lake from June to September. You can share the water with ducks and occasionally a swan that has obviously decided that its commute comes first. There are very few locations in a major European city where you can swim in a royal park lake on a Wednesday morning. It’s unheated and unchlorinated, but the setting is truly remarkable.
Richmond’s outdoor swimming scene isn’t particularly ostentatious. It is not required to be. While the rest of the city catches up to what regular swimsuits already knew, the pools here have been quietly performing their duties for decades heating, filtering, opening early remaining open late. This area of London is a great starting point for anyone considering developing an outdoor swimming habit.
i) https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/richmond-upon-thames/pools-on-the-park
ii) https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/lidos-and-outdoor-swimming-pools-in-london
iii) https://robertholmes.co.uk/local-news/outdoor-swimming-pools-near-wimbledon/