It’s not even mid July and London is already on heatwave number three of summer 2026, which means precisely two things. One: sleeping under a damp sheet with a fan blowing in your face all night has become the new normal. Two: you’re probably well and truly over being sticky with sweat at this point.
Which is where we come in. Here at Time Out, we’re on a mish to keep you cool in these sky-high temps. We’ve already put the Big Smoke’s ice cream parlours and gelaterias to the taste test, seeking out the best cones to stop your thermal reading from spiking.
Now, we bring you the best swim spots for a cooling summer dip. The crown goes to Brockwell Lido, which topped our list of the best lidos and outdoor swimming pools in London this year. A well-established south London darling, the 50-metre pool is unheated, meaning its water temperature fluctuates between 23C and 26C in summer months (even dropping to as low as 6C in winter).
Brockwell costs £8 (£5 for concessions) for a 50-minute swim sesh, and there’s plenty of space around the water to dry off in the sunshine post-dip.
Plus, the pool is surrounded by art deco Grade II-listed buildings that house the Lido Café, meaning it doubles as the perfect brunch spot too.
For perspiring paddlers north of the river, our silver medallist is probably your best bet. Parliament Hill Lido on Hampstead Heath took the second spot on our list. The pool is unheated and there’s also a paddling pool for little ones.
The Heath managed to secure two spots on the podium this year, with its swimming ponds coming in third place on the list. Originally dammed-off clay pits, the three natural pools are open to women, men and mixed groups, though you can expect to share the water with the surrounding wildlife too, ducks and herons included.
🏊 Check out our full list of London’s best lidos here.
Did you see that an al fresco street dining area will return to south London this weekend?
Plus: here's exactly how hot it will get during the current London heatwave and when it will end.
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