Serving East London residents all year round, the Hackney lido is open again for business after a 20 year absence. Unlike many lidos in the capital, London’s first Olympic-sized outdoor heated swimming pool, is open throughout the year and is a favourite with swimmers in the area. So jump in, swim some laps and practise your butterfly stroke – you won’t even notice it’s not summer… until you have to get out, that is.

The lido reopens
The reopening of the London Fields lido has been in the making since the 1990s. After some heavy duty refurbishment costing £2.5 million, it finally reopened in October 2006 after an art deco facelift. One of Hackney’s hidden gems, London’s only Olympic-sized heated outdoor swimming pool is popular with both young and old residents in the borough.

Lido history
The lido first opened during 1932, giving East London residents a place to relax and exercise. It closed during World War II, only to reopen again in 1951. Hackney enjoyed another 35 years of outdoor swimming before it closed again in 1986 after the abolishment of the Greater London Council.

Warm weather swimming
The pool is currently the biggest place in London to have a swim in a heated outdoor pool. The water temperature at the London Fields lido is set at 25 degrees, suitably warm for the chilly November and December temperatures, and it’s going to eventually get even warmer. Plans are reportedly in effect for a retractable roof to keep in the warm air too.

Characteristics of the lido
The Hackney London Fields lido is Olympic-sized, measuring 17m wide and 50m long. It ranges in depth from a shallow end of 1m to a deep end of 3m. No diving is allowed, but there’s plenty of opportunity for swimming laps. There’s adult lane swimming available in the mornings, so you can grab a swim before starting work without having to worry about kids swimming in circles and getting in your way.

The London Fields Lido is located in the northwest corner of London Fields Park. Nearest rail: London Fields.

Non-member admission is £4.10 for adults and £2.45 for children aged 15 and under. Opening times are 7.15am - 6.45pm Monday - Friday and 8am - 6pm Saturday - Sunday. For the full timetable of classes call 0207 254 9038 for more information.