Cool off in London this summer
Cheap swims and free ways to beat the heat
When London bakes you have two ways to cool down, a cheap lido or pond, or somewhere genuinely free. Prices and times change with the season and the weather, so always check the official site before you go.
Cheap swims: lidos and ponds (these charge to get in)
- Parliament Hill Lido — from £4.80 early or evening, up to £8.40 for 3hrs, the cheapest here. Unheated stainless steel pool. Hampstead Heath, NW5 (Gospel Oak Overground). Run by the City of London.
- Hampstead Heath Ponds — £5 a session, under-16s about £2.70. A wild swim in the Men's, Ladies' or Mixed pond. Hampstead Heath, NW5 (Hampstead Heath Overground). Run by the City of London.
- London Fields Lido — from about £6.40, heated to 24°C. Hackney, E8 (London Fields Overground). Run by Better, check Better for the current price.
- Serpentine Lido — £7.50 for a full day, child £3.25, concession £4.30. Open water in a real lake. Hyde Park, W2. Season June to mid-September. Run by the Royal Parks.
- Brockwell Lido — from £9.50 adult, child from £6. Art Deco 50m pool. Herne Hill, SE24 (Herne Hill rail). Now run by Active Lambeth, which took over from Fusion on 1 July 2026.
These pools are run by their own operators, not London Free Guide. The from price is the cheapest session we could find, you may pay more at peak times. Always check the official website for the right price and opening hours before you travel.
Free ways to cool off (no ticket, no charge): the Diana Memorial Fountain and the Granary Square fountains you can paddle in, the Kyoto Garden waterfall in Holland Park, Isabella Plantation, the shaded St Dunstan in the East ruin, Postman's Park, Kensington Gardens and the Hampstead Pergola and Hill Garden.
More free London guides · Free things to do in London