Swimming at Hampstead Heath Ponds: A Local Guide

Last checked: 23 September 2026. Hours, prices and booking rules change with the seasons, so confirm on the City of London swimming pages before you go.

Hampstead Heath has three natural bathing ponds and a 60-metre lido, all run by the City of London Corporation. The ponds are the real draw: lifeguarded natural water under the trees, a short walk from the Overground. People swim here in July heat and January cold.

This guide covers the three ponds. For the lido next door, see Parliament Hill Lido or our London lidos guide.

The three ponds at a glance

Kenwood Ladies' Pond

Kenwood Ladies' Pond sits off Millfield Lane, towards the Kenwood end of the Heath. It has changing rooms, showers, toilets, ladders and a hoist for assisted access. Inside the gates there is a free Upper Meadow for sitting out during opening hours (blankets and small picnics only, no chairs).

A few rules are specific to this pond. Tow floats and other swimming aids are not allowed, and neither is topless swimming. There is a small gated area where you can tether a dog while you swim.

Highgate Men's Pond

Highgate Men's Pond is near Millfield Lane on the Highgate side. It has changing areas, showers, toilets, ladders and a hoist. Snorkels, masks and swimming aids are not permitted. Dogs can be tethered outside the gate.

Hampstead Mixed Pond

The Mixed Pond is on the Hampstead side, near East Heath Road. It is the only pond open to everyone. It is also seasonal: open April to October and closed to public swimming the rest of the year. Facilities match the other two ponds.

Who can use the single-sex ponds

In 2026, after a public consultation, the City agreed a new access policy. Under it, the Ladies' Pond is open to women including trans women. The Men's Pond is open to men including trans men, and the Mixed Pond to everyone. The City notes a legal challenge is ongoing, so read the Bathing Ponds Access Policy for the current position.

Tickets and booking

The system has two modes, and which one applies depends on the time of year.

Summer (late May to early September). Sessions are split into Bookable and Drop-in. Bookable tickets are released online at 8pm each day, for sessions up to seven days ahead, and sell out fast in hot weather. Drop-in sessions are pay on arrival only. If a bookable session isn't full, walk-ins get in; if it is, staff decide on the day.

The rest of the year. Every session is drop-in and you pay at the gate. For 2026 the booking system closed on 7 September and reopens in spring 2027.

A few details worth knowing:

• Prices. A single pond swim is £5 for adults and £3 for concessions and under-16s. The City lists these as valid to 31 March 2027. Six- and 12-month season tickets are also sold. Check the swimming tickets page for the current list.
• Free early swims. Under-16s and over-60s swim free before 9.30am with proof of age.
• Cashless from 1 October 2026. The swimming facilities stop taking cash from that date.
• Late arrivals. You won't be let in later than 10 minutes before the end of a pond session.
• Season tickets don't jump queues. They give no booking priority.
• Refunds. Online bookings can be cancelled up to 48 hours before the session, minus a fee. Brief weather stoppages don't earn a refund.

Season, opening hours and winter swimming

The Ladies' and Men's ponds are open every day of the year, including bank holidays. Hours are longer in summer and much shorter in winter.

The City's timetable for the months ahead (autumn and winter 2026–27):

In high summer (10 May to 15 August in 2026) the ponds opened at 7am with last entry at 8.15pm. Always check the opening times page, as dates move each year.

Weather closures. The ponds stay open in rain and cold. They close for thunderstorms. They also close when the Met Office warns of gusts of 40mph or more, because of the risk of falling trees and branches.

Winter swimming. There are no cold-water induction sessions. The City's advice is to start with short dips, build up gradually and avoid diving in. Afterwards, warm up slowly with layers and a hot drink rather than a hot shower. Talk to your GP first if you have a medical condition. Our cold water swimming guide goes into more detail.

Water temperatures through the year

The City posts readings from each pond weekly, and more often when temperatures swing. We went through every reading published from April 2024 to September 2026. These are the ranges recorded across the ponds:

The coldest readings came in January, when the ponds dropped to 1–2°C. The warmest was 26°C at the Men's Pond in late June 2026. On 21 September 2026 the ponds read 16–17°C.

Temperatures can move several degrees in a week, so treat the table as a guide to the season, not a forecast. The water temperatures page has the latest figures, and each pond displays its own reading on site.

Safety

Competent swimmers only. The ponds are deep and the water is opaque. Staff can restrict where you swim if they're worried about your ability, and you must follow their instructions. There are tethered life rings to rest on, but no swimming aids.

Children. Only children aged 8 and over are allowed, anywhere on the pond sites, meadows included. Children aged 8 to 15 must be with an adult at all times, and one adult can supervise two at most. Children are asked to take a swim test when they first swim there, and when they return. If they don't pass, the City suggests the lido instead.

Kit. Wetsuits, neoprene boots and gloves are allowed. There are no lockers, so leave valuables at home or bring your own floating dry bag. Alcohol, glass, smoking, vaping and amplified music are banned on all three sites.

Water quality. These are natural, untreated ponds. The City says micro-organism levels often rise after rain and when the ponds are busy. Children, older people and anyone with lower immunity face more risk. Its advice: avoid swallowing pond water, and shower before and after.

Blue-green algae can bloom, mostly in summer. The City posts notices when levels rise and sometimes closes a pond. When we checked, the Ladies' Pond page said it had reopened but that algae levels remained elevated and could pose a risk to vulnerable swimmers.

All three ponds are designated bathing waters. The Environment Agency tests them weekly from May to September. In the 2025 classifications, the Men's and Mixed ponds were rated Excellent and the Ladies' Pond Good. Our guide to checking water quality in England explains what those ratings mean.

Stick to the three bathing ponds. The Heath has other ponds. The City can revoke a season ticket if the holder is found swimming in any pond that isn't lifeguarded.

Closures at short notice. If a pond has to shut, the City updates its swimming homepage and posts on Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky. It also emails its swimming mailing list during office hours.

Before you head up the hill, the live SwimScore on each SwimPass spot page gives a quick read on the day's conditions.

Getting there

All three ponds are a walk from the nearest station. The City gives these walking times.

Kenwood Ladies' Pond (off Millfield Lane)

• Gospel Oak, London Overground: 23 minutes
• Highgate, Northern line: 26 minutes
• Bus 214 stops nearby
• On-street parking on Merton Lane and Millfield Lane; bike racks inside the gate

Highgate Men's Pond (near Millfield Lane)

• Gospel Oak, London Overground: 18 minutes
• Kentish Town, Northern line: 28 minutes
• Bus 214 stops nearby
• On-street parking on Millfield Lane; bike racks outside the gate

Hampstead Mixed Pond (near East Heath Road)

• Hampstead Heath, London Overground: 10 minutes
• Hampstead, Northern line: 17 minutes
• Parking at East Heath car park

The way in from the road to each pond includes an unmade track, so allow a few extra minutes in wet weather. Check parking signs, as restrictions apply.

A quick checklist before you go

1. Check the pond's open or closed status on the City's swimming page.
2. In summer, book a slot at 8pm up to a week ahead, or arrive early for a drop-in session.
3. Bring a card or phone: the ponds go cashless from 1 October 2026.
4. Look at the latest water temperature and plan your time in the water around it.
5. Bring warm layers and a hot drink for afterwards, especially from October.

For more places to swim around the country, browse our UK swim spots.

Sources

• Swimming at Hampstead Heath – City of London
• Kenwood Ladies' Pond – City of London
• Highgate Men's Pond – City of London
• Hampstead Mixed Pond – City of London
• Swimming Opening Times – City of London
• Booking for Swimming – City of London
• Swimming tickets – City of London
• Water Temperatures – City of London
• Cold water swimming guidelines – City of London
• Hampstead Heath's Bathing Ponds Access Policy – City of London
• Bathing waters: list of designated waters in England – GOV.UK
• National bathing waters in England for 2025: individual classifications (ODS) – Environment Agency via GOV.UK