Wimbledon may have been attracting visitors since the Iron age when the hill fort on Wimbledon Common is said to have been built, but residents have to venture a little further to find the ultimate outdoor stress relief – in the form of an outdoor swimming pool.
Since 1987, when Robert Holmes & Co started to successfully market some of the finest residential property in south west London and Surrey, we have noted the property purchasers become more active in the summer months as warm days and lighter nights encourage more people to step up their search for a new home.
We also understand that selling property can be a stressful experience. This is why we handle every aspect of the process. From advertising your house or flat in the local area and on national property websites, to holding accompanied viewings and keeping you fully informed at every stage of the conveyancing period, exchange of contracts and completion of the sale.
Temperatures in London are set to hit 28C (and hopefully higher) this Summer, according to BBC weather reports, so what better way to take the stress out of selling a home than to escape out for the day and take a dip in an outdoor swimming pool?
Here, we seek out the pools that are closest to south west London before running through your options in nearby Surrey.
Hampton Pool is set in two acres of woodland on a corner of Bushy Park. There is a lovely 36m open-air pool and a 12.5m long shallow learner paddling pool for children with their parents. Plus, a large grassed area to picnic and soak up the sun. And better than the fact it’s less than four miles from Kingston-upon Thames, is it’s heated to 28C and is open all year round. Just be aware, the pool is not accessible from Bushy Park and the car park has a limited number of spaces. The nearest station is Hampton Station.
Just a short walk from Wimbledon is an indoor and outdoor heated pool within the health club. The 20m outdoor pool is open all year round with a sun terrace. Perfect swimming spots for the Summer. The nearest station is Raynes Park.
Less than five miles from Wimbledon Common and 90m long, this is the largest freshwater open air pool in England. Flanked by primary-coloured changing cubicles, it is over 100 years old and the base for the South London Swimming Club and the home of cold-water swimming in the UK. The nearest station is Tooting Bec tube.
In a Grade II-listed art deco building at the heart of Brockwell Park, this 50m pool – which is about seven-and-a-half miles from Wimbledon Common – also features an award-winning café. Brockwell Lido reopened in 1994, four years after local campaigners started a battle to save this facility after it closed. The nearest station is Herne Hill.
Built in the 1960s and featuring both a lido and an indoor pool, the Grade II-listed Richmond Pools are part of a complex that includes a spa and fitness centre. The heated outdoor pool, which is less than seven miles from Wimbledon Common, is only open during the summer months. The nearest station is Richmond tube.
Just 7.1 miles miles from Wimbledon Common, the Serpentine Lido is perhaps the best known open air pool in London. This swimming facility, which is sectioned off from the pond in Hyde Park, is unheated, unchlorinated and users get to share the water with the local wildlife. However, it is open to the public from 10am during the Summer months. The nearest station is Hyde Park Corner or Lancaster Gate tube.
This little-known heated outdoor pool is flanked on all sides by residential and office buildings, which is perfect for keeping out any chilling breeze. This 27.5m long pool is perfect for a quick dip during your lunch hour, if you happen to work in the West End of London. The nearest station is Covent Garden tube.
Beckenham Place Park is set in Lewisham’s largest green space, surrounded by ancient woodland and the beautiful Georgian Beckenham Place Mansion. The council refilled the park’s lost Georgian lake, as part of a renovation project in 2019. The purpose-built open water swimming lake is open all year round. The nearest station is Beckenham Hill.
Hampstead Heath ponds are run by the City of London Corporation and are ideal for open water swimming. The three pools are dedicated for certain groups including ladies, men and mixed groups (children under eight years old are not permitted). The nearest station is Kentish Town tube.
London Fields Lido is a 50m Olympic size heated outdoor swimming pool, located in Hackney. A 20-year campaign saved the lido from demolition and it reopened in 2006. It’s open all year round. It was refurbished in 2017 and facilities now include a café with a large sundeck and sunbathing area. The nearest station is London Fields Overground.
Parliament Hill Lido was first opened in 1938 and refurbished in 2005. It is 60m long so you can enjoy some long open water swimming. It has a stainless-steel pool liner providing a metallic shimmer to the water. The lido is unheated, but wetsuits are allowed. The nearest station is Gospel Oak Overground.
West Reservoir is located in Stoke Newington. The English reservoir, measuring 23 acres, is ideal for open water swimming with a wetsuit. The centre is home to many water sports, including sailing and kayaking, as well as swimming. There’s also a cafe overlooking the water. The nearest station is Manor House tube.
Frensham Great Pond is an ideal wild swimming spot. It’s a 50m lake with shallow waters and soft sand. Areas are buoyed off for swimming. The lake has beautiful views with its open heathland and is surrounded by the forested hills of Surrey. The nearest station is Farnham.
The value of homes within five miles of an outdoor swimming pool is rising. The average value of a detached house in Wimbledon Village is over £4m. To discover how much your home could be worth, contact Robert Holmes & Co today.
Looking to Sell or Let Your Property? Book Your Free Property Valuation with one of our experts.
"*" indicates required fields
Book a quick phone consultation with one of our negotiators.
"*" indicates required fields
