Lidos

Cookie

Are there any Lido's left in North London?

N2n4

never actually been (keep meaning to) but one in crouch end apparently.

http://www.haringey.gov.uk/index/community_and_leisure/leisurecentres/leisure-centres/park_road.htm

also hampstead heath

andy

Ponds on the Heath and the big Lido at Park Road Pools are your closest choices.

miss annie

Parliament Hill is a proper 1930's lido as is Park Road Pools in Crouch End. Both are unheated so you'll need a strong constitution or a nice sunny day. Further afield in Big London, the Serpentine Lido and the outdoor pool at the Oasis in Shaftesbury Avenue are both very good and I'm led to believe that there are lidos in the badlands on the other side of the river.

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Marquis

[This](http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/video/2010/aug/05/kate-rew-wild-swim-london?intcmp=239) may be for you.

krappyrubsnif

I think there might be some grammar lesson's around too.

krappyrubsnif

There's also the *heated* outdoor lido at London Fields in Hackney - absolutely brill.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/place?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=sjn&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&biw=1262&bih=601&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=heated+lido+hackney&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=heated+lido&hnear=Hackney,+Greater+London&cid=4645915183943542730

Why don't embedded links ever work for me? Grrrr!

ellen_b_p

Parliament Hill lido is really great - one of my favourite things in London! It's not heated, so it's generally not as busy as heated ones.

Plus, you can get there from Crouch Hill in 10 minutes!

Tinker

Small correction: Park Road lido in Crouch End is actually heated, tho' it may not always feel like it in cool weather.

Cookie

Wow! Thanks everyone. I am new to this site and I cannot believe just how amazing it is. One of the things that I miss since leaving London so long ago, is the Fantastic Lido's, especially the 1930's type. I absolutely adore Art Deco buildings, well, everything Art Deco to be honest. Wish I really was just 10 minutes away from Parliament Hill Lido. Think that I may have to travel back down for a visit . You guys will think I am nuts. I live quite near to the coast.I can drive down to the sea in about 30minutes, and there are some superb coastlines in Essex and Suffolk, but for me there is nothing to match a 1930's Lido. Happy Memories.

krappyrubsnif

Lots of Art Deco in Wood Green.

miss annie

@Cookie I think there is still a proper lido in Brightlingsea near Colchester in Essex. My sister lives near there and I'm sure she said she has been recently.

Cookie

I know the one that you mean, the open air pool, and considering that the beach is just yards away, it is amazing how popular it is! Have to admit though that it really is the Art Deco Lidos that woo me. Went to one as a teenager in the 60's. It was amazing. It had these fabulous tiered fountains around the pool and lots of space to just lounge around. Have been racking my brains to remember exactly where it was. It was a short bus ride from Finsbury park, but none of the above Lidos ring any bells. Perhaps 'my' Lido no longer exists as I know that many of them were destroyed.

djmattyoung

in the 80's I used to go to the lido in Finchley where there is now the cinema and bowling complex just off the north circ.
There was 2 pools a big adults one and a little smaller one and there was a waterfall thing I think & some fountains. Everyone just chilled out on the grass around the pools, my memory is a bit sketchy but I used to love it! Shame they got rid of it.

pic - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/oliver.merrington/lidos/finchleysmall2.jpg/

article on all lidos that have closed in London - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/oliver.merrington/lidos/lidos1closed.htm

missisclack

And does anyone remember Durnsford open air pool (now the Sunshine Garden Centre) on Durnsford Road from Muswell Hill to Bounds Green?

I spent most summers in the mid 80s hanging out there with a rabble of other 15 year olds, smoking Rothmans and listening to Adam and the Ants / Echo & the Bunnymen / The Smiths on a 'ghetto blaster'.

We were there so often, we even got quite good 2 day bit parts in a film called Espresso Splasho they filmed there in about 1985. They gave me a beehive and a vintage, pointy cupped turqiouse one poiece swimsuit to wear (and lots of sandwiches). It was the follow up film to Party Party and ended up being a trailer film for Trading Places. That's the sum of my 15 minutes of fame!

Cookie

Djmattyoung, I think that you have solved my puzzle at last . Your description fits with the Lido and the area exactly. A short busride from Finsbury Park,to Finchley does ring a bell.
So it has gone, I am so sad .It was a fabulous Lido. Would love to take the developers to task and ask them why they decided to destroy it!!!

miss annie

There is still outdoor swimming at the Finchley complex, not sure how closely it resembles the original lido though. Here is a handy link to all lidos in London <http://www.timeout.com/london/feature/1038/lidos-and-outdoor-swimming-pools-in-london>;

djmattyoung

@Cookie

Glad I've helped you out.

Wish I could remember a bit more of the place but I was young. I remember when walking in the big pool is straight infront with the fountains either side of it. To get to the kids pool I think it was a level below and that's where the waterfall thing was.

I can't remember why the closed either... it's a shame.

WillM

For what it's worth, that cinema complex gave me and my friends a lot of happy memories when we were growing up near it. Still, sorry your lido had to go to make way for it.

Cookie

Found info about another of my old swimming holes, (albeit an indoor one this time). It was in Hornsey road. I learned to swim there. I see that it is now a fancy housing complex, but it was a joy to see that the Neon Diving Lady has been restored! Lots of happy memories.Not only did it have a 'mixed' pool which was modern, it also had a ladies only pool which looked a lot older. It was much smaller, with lower diving steps, (no high diving boards) and Really draughty changing cubicles!! However, it was cheaper than the main pool, so I spent most of my time in that one.

tosscat

[This](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t9r28) might be worth a watch tonight. I've been doing my own [outdoor](http://floridastateparks.org/wakullasprings/photogallery.cfm) [swimming](http://www.coralgablesvenetianpool.com/) [tour](http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonsprings.htm) recently - and I can recommend them all.

Cookie

tosscat, If you love swimming, then can I suggest you visit Turkey. I visited this amazing country many years ago, and went on a boat trip to 'Cleopatras Bath' near an island. No, I don't believe that Cleo was there either, but swimming around the 'bath' was amazing! I have never seen such clear water, and such amazing Sea Urchins that you would not want to put your foot on! Much as I loved it, It will never be the same as a 1930's Lido for me, but it is pretty good.