Beckenham Place Park Lake

Know before you go

Getting in

Pre-booked, supervised sessions run by PTP Coaching; book online as a guest or with a Sports Guardian account, then check in at the lake with a scanned wristband. Minimum age 8; swimmers must manage 25m confidently, and under-15s complete a short competency test.

Parking & transport

Pay-and-display car park off Beckenham Hill Road (108 spaces, charged 8am to 5pm; Blue Badge holders free for four hours), then walk down the hill to the lake. Beckenham Hill station is under five minutes' walk from the park entrance; Ravensbourne and Beckenham Junction are also close.

Lifeguards

Sessions are supervised by PTP safety staff, and wristband check-in tells staff exactly who is in the water.

Water quality

Not a designated bathing water. PTP carries out daily visual checks for blue-green algae on a green, amber and red system and has installed equipment to help keep algae levels down in summer.

Season

Sessions continue beyond summer on reduced hours (for example five days a week from 1 October to 15 November 2026); winter swimmers need a cold water induction and their own Sports Guardian band.

Watch for

• Blue-green algae, more likely in summer
• Swimmer's itch ('duck mites') from waterfowl parasites; dry off immediately after swimming
• Cold water in the colder months; a one-off cold water induction is required

Facilities

Very limited at the lake, with no running water · Nearest toilets at the Homestead café, 3 to 4 minutes' walk · Bike racks by the lake

Sources: beckenhamplacepark.com, ptp.org.uk, ptp.org.uk, ptp.org.uk, en.wikipedia.org, assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

How was your swim?