Tooting Bec Lido
At 91 metres long, Tooting Bec Lido is the UK's largest freshwater pool by surface area, and its unheated water has drawn swimmers to Tooting Bec Common since 1906. Summer brings busy public sessions; from October to April it belongs to South London Swimming Club members, who swim widths through the winter. Book summer slots in advance and lower yourself in slowly when the water is cold.
Photo: Nick Cooper · CC BY-SA 3.0
Latest reading · SwimScore 73/100 (Good swim) for a typical swimmer: air 18°C, wind 12 km/h, UV 0. Updated .
Know before you go
- Best conditions
- Warm summer days, arriving early or with a booking, as the lido gets very busy in sunny weather.
- Getting in
- Open to the public from 1 May to 30 September (2026); book sessions in advance through Places Leisure, with walk-in entry only if sessions are not full. From 1 October to 30 April the lido is open only to South London Swimming Club members with a lido pass.
- Parking & transport
- Free but limited car park beside the lido on Tooting Bec Common (not run by the pool operator), including disabled bays about 120 yards from the entrance. Buses 319, 249 and G1 stop a short walk away.
- Lifeguards
- Lifeguarded whenever open. In winter the lifeguards set opening and closing by daylight, as they must be able to see across the pool; the pool is cleared for 30 minutes after thunder.
- Season
- Public season 1 May to 30 September (summer hours 6am to 8pm with a cleaning break 2.30 to 3.30pm). Members-only winter season 1 October to 30 April, 7am (or sunrise) to 2pm daily, including Christmas Day.
- Who swims here
- South London Swimming Club, founded in 1906 and racing here since 1908, holds Sunday morning handicap races all year and runs the UK Cold Water Swimming Championships at the lido (next on 30 January 2027).
- Watch for
- Cold water shock outside high summer; the club advises lowering yourself in gradually and acclimatising through autumn
- South London Swimming Club does not encourage distance swimming below 8°C without training and medical support
- Facilities
- Changing rooms, showers and toilets · Café (own food welcome; no alcohol or glass) · Small lockers (bring your own padlock) · Paddling pools · Accessible changing and shower, pool pod and hoist on request
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, wandsworth.gov.uk, placesleisure.org, slsc.org.uk, slsc.org.uk, slsc.org.uk, slsc.org.uk
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Details
- Location
- Wandsworth, England, United Kingdom
- Type
- pool
- Coordinates
- 51.4320, -0.1391