Hampstead Bathing Ponds
About
Swimming in the Hampstead Heath ponds is one of London's most primal pleasures. Fed by the headwaters of the River Fleet, these open-air ponds have been used for bathing since the 1860s. There are three: the Men's Pond, the Women's Pond, and the Mixed Bathing Pond — each with its own character and community of regulars who swim year-round, breaking ice in January and basking in August. The water is cold. Even in high summer it rarely tops 20°C, and in winter it can drop to 2°C. But the cold is the point — the rush of endorphins after a winter dip is addictive, and the regulars (some of whom have been swimming here for decades) will tell you it's the best thing they do for their mental health. Lifeguards are on duty during opening hours. The Women's Pond has a particularly devoted community and a beautifully secluded setting surrounded by trees. The Mixed Pond is the most accessible and has a meadow for sunbathing. The Men's Pond has a diving board. All three are reached by short walks through the Heath — towel under your arm, coffee afterwards from the café by Parliament Hill. Pure London magic.
https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/hampstead-heath/swimming
Tickets & Pricing
Adult £2, Concessions £1. Season tickets available.
Opening Times
Daily. Hours vary seasonally: typically 7:00-19:00 (summer), 7:00-12:00 (winter). Lifeguards on duty during hours.
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