BennettSwims Goes Urban

Generally there are no coastguards involved, and I normally stop at a measley 1km, but none the less here’s my contribution to this little family collection of swims. Outdoor swimming in London can actually be pretty fantastic!

London Fields Lido: My local. And lucky me, because not everyone has a heated outdoor Olympic sized pool within walking distance of their house. Renovated and reopened in 2006 it’s a great escape from bustling Hackney.

Brockwell Park Lido: Another recently revamped pool. Slightly swanky changing rooms and a nice little café on the side means it feels a bit more like a spa than the municipal style I’m used to - a real treat.

Parliament Hill Lido & Hampstead Ponds: Both in Hampstead Heath, the lido is stainless steel lined which gives a lovely sparkle to your laps when the sun comes out! For something a bit more in touch with nature, the ponds – particularly the secluded ladies’ one – are just as cold, but with more mud and moorhens.

The Serpentine: The water gets a bit murky after prolonged hot spells, but this is possibly the only place you can swim next to a pedalo without something having gone very wrong.

Park Road Lido, Crouch End: Tucked away behind a dodgy looking plastic leisure centre, the pool itself is actually lovely. Surrounded by big trees and grass banks for lounging on, it didn’t really matter that the cubicles left something to be desired.

Tooting Bec Lido: Far and away my favourite swim of the summer. The pool is gigantic (90x30m) and rain on the day I went there meant I was only sharing it with a few clockwork triathlon swimmers. A bit run down in that nice way that lidos are sometimes, and quite a lot like heaven.

Hampton Open Air Pool: Heated to a toasty 28 degrees on the January afternoon I went there with Mum. On most days that would be like swimming in bathwater, but since it was only about 4 degrees outside we were both smitten! So much so that it's prompted me to finally get my first post up, which is saying something.

I’ve got a couple more pools on my list for when the weather perks up, I’ll be sure to report back!

Dr. Bennett Memorial Swim, New Year's Day 2010

It has taken a while to get round to writing this entry. A year ago to the day from this swim Dad died. So this year the new year's swim was dedicated to his memory.

The turnout was brilliant, about 40 people including children I'd guess, although only seven were brave enough to swim. This was a improvement on the previous two years - three and five respectively. On the drive over to Farleigh Hungerford the car thermometer didn't rise above minus 2 degrees, but the day was clear and bright, and importantly, windless. Before getting in the water I gave a brief dedication to Dad and his memory was toasted by the group before we turned to the icy river.

The other gallant blokes all entered the water by the rope swing with a variety entry styles from starfish to 'the Japanese' and an ostentatious splash. I opted for a more dignified climb down the ladder followed by a roll on to my back letting out a gentle 'owh, owh, owh' as a homage to Dad's favoured method of entry into cold water.

After a very brief swim in the frigid water we all headed to the bank but the current was pushing against us. It wasn't strong, but it was enough to give the event a little frisson of danger as we all clamoured for the ladder.

Once out victorious photos were taken, ski clothes put on and sloe gin sipped before heading to 'dungeon' at The George a 700 year old pub in near by Norton St. Phillip. The view from the back of the pub is amazing. It looks unchanged for hundreds of years, just fields, a few honey coloured cottages covered with a dusting of snow.

We all agreed that it was a great day and we'd meet the same time next year and Dom even booked the dungeon again.

PS Dom made a great video of the swim that you can see on YouTube, just type 'Farleigh Hungerford swim' or 'John Bennett swim' into the search box.