Eleanor Noyce | Lifestyle Reporter
Published June 26, 2026 1:10pm
Updated June 26, 2026 1:11pm
If there’s one thing Londoners have been doing on repeat this week, it’s complaining about just how hot it is.
Whether it’s sticking ice cubes on your wrists, keeping your curtains shut, or directing your fan outside your window to push the cool air out (the jury’s still out on that one), you’ve probably tried everything to stop sweating.
Something that’s guaranteed to take the edge off, however, is an outdoor swim — and there’s one London spot you might not have considered.
Charlton Lido has crystal blue waters just as sparkling as others in the city, including Brockwell and London Fields, but with one crucial difference: it’s much quieter.
It pretty much does what it says on the tin: it’s a 50-metre outdoor pool with a little sun terrace on the side and outdoor changing rooms.
If you find yourself particularly attached, this one’s heated during the winter, too, in case you don’t fancy donning a wetsuit. It’s usually kept to temperatures of around 22°C, and there are four lanes to choose from.
However, if there are swimming lessons, this might drop down to two or three lanes, depending on how busy it is.
As with most things in life, there’s one catch — and that’s that Charlton Lido can be a little bit difficult to get to, depending on where in London you live.
There isn’t a Tube station, but if you’re coming from Victoria, there’s a direct train to Lewisham that takes 25 minutes. From there, you’ll need to take the 89 bus to Slade Green Station, and get off at Charlton Park Lane.
In total, the journey takes around one hour and 8 minutes.
Even though it’s in South London, the travel time can end up being worse. If you’re coming from Brixton, you’ll need to take two buses, the 415 and the 53, which takes one hour and 15 minutes. Again, a fairly big commitment in sweltering heat.
Sometimes, though, needs must. Would you rather sweat inside your attic room or get yourself to cooler waters?
Fancy yourself a cool dip this weekend? While the Friday slots are pretty much gone — and those post work slots go like hotcakes — you’re still in luck for the weekend.
Tomorrow, when the Met Office has issued a forecast of 32°C (slightly better than the record-breaking three-day red warning, but still), there’s space all day.
The only slots which are currently sold out are the three toddler splash sessions, at 10am, 12pm, and 2pm. All of these are in the teaching pool, rather than the main swimming area.
It’s much the same on Sunday, with those same three slots being the old ones which are sold out. Slots for adults cost £11.50, while a junior ticket will set you back £5.50.
Now, Charlton Lido has some fans — but only those who are in the know.
In the r/London Subreddit, @Rj-24 previously wrote: ‘Don’t tell everyone about it, they’ll all start visiting,’ while @saleslime said it was ‘our secret.’
@NerdyNerdanel added: ‘Charlton tends to be really quiet, but it’s a bit annoying to get to.’
Over on TikTok, @appletoothpaste1 described it as ‘one of London’s most overlooked lidos, even though I think it’s one of the best.’
Honestly? We have to agree. We’ll catch you at the poolside, book in hand.
Lidos in the south of England for a cold dip this summer
If a bit of lido tourism tickles your fancy, there are plenty of options across the south of England.
Last month, the historic Brightlingsea Lido reopened for the summer. The Essex spot sits right by the sea, and while it was originally a creek, in 1932, it was converted into a tidal saltwater pool.
It’s pretty cheap too, with adult admission costing just £7.50, and children over two can enter for £5.50 — under twos go free. You can also hire inflatables for £4.50 and sunbeds for £2.50.
That’s not the only option. New research has revealed the best spots in the world for a refreshing cold water dip, and Brockwell Lido in South London has made the list.
Assessing the top 20 destinations across the globe, the study ranked each one based on the number of positive reviews, and it came in 19th place.
That’s right: not just in the UK, but the entire world. How’s that for a strong summer plan?
Plus, the city’s first floating swimming pool opened last week.
Billed as an ‘urban oasis,’ the water at Sea Lanes Canary Wharf is all natural, and there are six lanes to choose from. And the fun doesn’t need to stop once you’ve finished your lengths, either, as there’s a food and drink menu for you to enjoy poolside.
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