My favourite place in London.

Even when Hyde Park is packed on a hot summer’s day, there’s always space on the grassy banks beside the Lido (and the water is rarely packed either!)

Swans, Canada geese and moorhens intersect your path as you go up and down. When you get in the water, the geese ruffle and squawk away from the water’s edge.

The rowing boats and pedalos are separated from the swimming area by a string of buoys, so you can see the tourists floating past, often giving you strange looks. The pool area is one hundred meters long and there’s also a children’s paddling pool and a small cafe. The historic serpentine swimming club has been meeting here for over two hundred years and they swim and race from 6.30-9.30 all throughout the year, including the famous Christmas Day race for the Peter Pan cup, once presented by J.M.Barrie.

Swimming in the Lido, with the green banks, overhanging trees and gulls swooping overhead, it doesn’t feel like the centre of London. But then you look up and you can see the skyscrapers in the distance, just at the edge of the park. It’s the best of both worlds.

Please sponsor me for the Alzheimer’s Society. You can find the link here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/swimbonnieswim