Swim in the Serpentine
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
The Serpentine Lido lets you swim in open water in the middle of Hyde Park, inside a buoyed area of the lake watched by lifeguards. The Royal Parks describes the Serpentine Swimming Club, whose members swim there early each morning and race on Christmas Day, as the oldest swimming club in Britain.
ModerateUnder £100 / $130An afternoonOutdoorsAlone or with othersLondonLate spring to early autumn
How to start
- Check The Royal Parks' Serpentine Lido page for this year's opening season and session types.
- Book a session online in advance, or turn up on the day.
- Use the changing rooms at the Lido, enter the water slowly and stay inside the line of buoys.
Where to go
- The Royal Parks: Swimming at the Lido (Hyde Park)
- The Royal Parks sports and leisure: Swimming in The Serpentine
We opened these links on 8 October 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. The hard part of a day out is the timing: the right season, tickets and getting there. The plan watches the calendar for you.
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