Clean, open air pool in the sun for less than a fiver? On your doorstep. A few weeks ago, on one of the hottest days of the year so far, I discovered the Hampstead Heath Lido. And my word is it good. An undiscovered treasure of North London which is within minutes of the Bush courtesy of the Overground to Gospel Oak.
Think simple, think cheap and cheerful, but think hot weather plus huge olympic sized outdoor swimming pool with plenty of space round the pool for sunbathing. And you've got the measure of it.
Its £4.50 to get in for the day and my word its worth every penny.
You do have to share it with lots of teenagers trying to flirt with each other all the time and some extremely tattooed gentlemen that parade around the pool showing off their biceps but its a real mix in there with bookish types perched next to the beefcakes.
You can leave your valuables in a free cloak room thing and just take in the day enjoying a retro 1930s establishment that was put there so that the common man could enjoy the delights of swimming.
Not much good came out of the 30s if you think about it - Hitler's Germany, Stalin's Great Terror and the second World War put a significant damper on things, but the Lido was something really good - and I highly recommend it to fellow Bushers!
How funny - I've spent the day thinking about Hampstead Heath, having not been there for years and was just wondering what the lido was like.
ReplyDeleteNokia are sending me 30 extras tomorrow morning to film a remake of the end of The Wicker Man on my phone, on Parliament Hill, just up from the lido.
Anyone reading this, please feel free to join our happy band of murderous hippies between 11 and 2. Should be fun.
More details on my videoblog:
http://bit.ly/dvgSM5
Might have to take a dip tomorrow after we're done ;)
good luck with that!
ReplyDeletehow do I get there from shepherds bush? I live at elsham rd, wanna cool down in that pool tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteoverground Bush to Gospel Oak and its round the corner
ReplyDelete