London’s Best Child-friendly Lidos
Your little boy or girl is bound to love Tooting Bec Lido. The country’s largest outdoor pool at just over 90 meters long, there’s lots of room for your loved ones to play around. If your children are really young, Tooting Bec’s great facilities include a paddling pool for under-5s, too. There are a number of family-friendly clubs on offer throughout the summer, as well, so if your child takes to swimming like a duck to water, you may want to enrol them in a club. Just make sure your child’s sun cream is applied every 2 hours to avoid burning – before and just after any club activities.
Opening hours:
1st May – 30th September
Monday – Sunday 6.00 – 19.30
Swimming in Hyde Park’s Serpentine is a must during the summer months. Just like Tooting Bec, the Serpentine has a child-friendly swimming pool for paddling, and is even home to the UK’s oldest swimming club.
Visit the lido between 6.00am and 9:30 to kick off a lifetime love of healthy outdoor swimming. It’s easy to spend a full day here: just next to the swimming area is a well-equipped children’s play area with swings, slide, climbing frame and paddling pool.
Opening hours:
10:00am – 6:00 pm (last entry 5:30pm) every day in June, July and August.
During May it is only open on weekends and Bank Holidays.
Hampstead Heath is a fantastic day out for a family regardless of whether swimming is involved. But on a sunny summer day, your kid will love playing in this fantastic pool. It’s true that swimming here in the summer is very busy. However, with adults able to take advantage of the late evening swimming slots, daytime swimming is sure to be a child-friendly affair.
Opening hours:
Summer season from 7th May to 25th September
All swimmers from 7:00am – 18:30pm; adults only from 18:30am – 20:30pm
Next door to a triathlon club and a BMX track, this lido tops off a sporty enclave in the trendy Herne Hill area of South London – a fantastic place to inspire your children to keep active! With a gym and dance classes – and even an indoor cycling space – Brockwell has everything you need to help your little ones enjoy themselves for a full day, while you enjoy the delights of the café!
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Opening hours:
April and October extended season: Monday-Friday 6:30am-13:00pm; 16:00 – 19:00 Saturday and Sunday 08:00am – 18:00pm
May and September: Monday-Friday 07:00am – 13:00pm 16:00pm – 20:00pm Saturday and Sunday 08:00am – 18:00pm
June, July and August: Monday-Friday 06:30 – 20:00; Saturday and Sunday 08:00am – 18:00pm.
Most lidos are unheated, but not Charlton lido! Fully heated, this Greenwich-based pool is 50 watery meters of bliss and perfect for picky swimmers. There’s a separate toddlers pool, too.
Attached to the lido is a fantastic lifestyle club, and between the two, your children will be entertained for hours. They even offer fantastic birthday parties for any children lucky enough to be born in the summer months!
Opening hours:
Hours vary, but times are generally 6:00am – 22:00pm Mon-Fri; 9:00am – 17:00pm on Saturday and Sunday
If your child if dipping into the pool this summer, make sure you reapply sun cream after towelling dry every time they get wet. Try Infant Sun Care SPF50+ for maximum protection that’s gentle on children’s sensitive skin.
