Olympic spirit: Outdoor pools that will have you training like Tom Daley
Get inspired by Team GB's heroic efforts in Rio and dive into one of the relaxing outdoor pools on your doorstep.
The Rio Olympics has got off to a rather damp start for Team GB with very little gold sparkling on the horizon, but while fourth place is becoming the favourite position for some, the men and women in the pool are diligently holding the fort on the winners' blocks.
With Adam Peaty taking home a gold medal in the men's 100m breaststroke, Jazz Carlin winning silver in the women's 400m freestyle and Tom Daley and Daniel Goodfellow showing off their skills in tiny Stella McCartney trunks and bagging bronze in the synchronised dive, we are becoming the water babes of the Games.
If all this aquatic prowess is filling you with energy to dive into the pool for your own personal best, now couldn't be a better time.
With everyone else escaping abroad and the good weather holding up for a little bit longer in the UK, make the most of the outdoor swimming spaces in the city and around the UK. Even when the sun stops shining, these recreational facilities are still fantastic places to exercise and get out and about at the same time.
Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds, NW5, London
Certainly the most beautiful sets of swimming ponds in London, the three ponds on the Heath are split into the Mixed pond - close to Hampstead/ Belsize Park - and the Men's and Ladies' Ponds which are on the Highgate side. The Ladies' Ponds are a real favourite with the pond enveloped with trees and flora that hides any traces of the city, although those bringing children should be aware that male babies/toddlers are not allowed in with their mothers, other than that, it is all but perfect and the late-night openings until 8.30pm in summer are a wonderful way to end the day.
Entry £2 adults, all ponds
Tooting Bec Lido, SW16, London
Open since 1906, the vibrant Tooting Bec Lido has been a haven for south Londoners for many years. The huge 90m x 30m pool is the largest freshwater, open-air swimming pool in the UK open from May to September for training, splashing or sun-bathing. For braver swimmers, the South London Swimming Club use the pool all year round but whilst the unheated water might be a shock to the system, there is a sauna open from November to March to warm up in.
Entry £8.10 adult
Serpentine Lido, Hyde Park, W2, London
Home to the oldest swimming club in Britain, The Serpentine Swimming Club members swim here everyday but that doesn't mean they don't welcome visitors to their idyllic surroundings nestled in the middle of Hyde Park. This natural swimming pool is worlds away from the modern style of the lido pool but is a wonderful way to really enjoy London's nature in a different way. Open on weekends throughout May (including the May Day Bank Holiday) and seven days a week from 1 June to 12 September, head here on a sunny day to make the best of the pool and the park.
Entry £4.80 Adults
London Fields Lido, E8, London
A haven in the winter and the social hub of east London in the summer, London Fields Lido is heated all year round to ensure happy swimmers in January and July alike. As the only heated Olympic-sized pool, the 50-metre dimensions makes it a fantastic size for exercising in, as well as just cooling off on a hot day. There are also a range of classes and swimming lanes to accommodate all abilities.
Entry £4.70 for non-member adults
Kings Cross Pond, N1, London
One of the more recent additions to London's open pool scene, Of Soil and Water: King's Cross Pond Club is described as an 'art installation you can swim in'. It is the first man-made fresh water public bathing pond and forms part of the vast renewal project in Kings Cross.
Entry £5
Brockwell Park Lido, SE24, London
Part of an Art Deco Grade II-listed building from 1937, the lido is a local favourite but can be a bit bracing for some on an overcast day as the pool is unheated, but once you're in on a sunny day it is fantastic. Great views of south London within Brockwell Park and a fantastic cafe.
Entry £5.95 adult
Outside London:
Chagford Swimming Pool, Dartmoor
This river-fed open pool is situated slap bang in the middle of the Dartmoor national park so the views are just perfect, although the most wonderful innovation to this pool is the PV solar panel covers that are rolled out each evening to maintain the temperature.
Entry £4 for adults
chagfordpool.co.uk
Jubilee Pool, St Ives, Cornwall
After being severely damaged during the storms in 2014, St Ives' Jubilee Pool closed for almost two years while the Friends of the Jubilee Pool secured enough investment to repair the damage and reconstuct the pool and restore it to its former 1930's decadence with modern updates. Reopened in July 2016, the pool is open for visitors and better than ever.
Entry £4.75 for adults
jubileepool.co.uk
Lymington Sea Water Baths
The sea water baths in Lymington date back to the 19th century and gained Grade II listing in 2012 joining a number of open salt water baths across the country with heritage status. Unlike the regular pools, Lymington has upped its game and plays host to kayaks, paddle boards, and water rollers. There are plans to install the South Coast's biggest inflatable obstacle course.
Entry £6.50 for adults using inflatables, £2.50 for adults swimming
lymingtonseawaterbaths.org.uk
Tinside Lido, Plymouth
Another Grade II-listed Art Deco wonder, the Tinside Lido is a beautiful 1935 design that looks right out to sea. The salt water pool is open from the end of May until the end of September and is a wonderful way to feel like you're out to sea without having to put any effort in.
Entry £4.50 adults
Bude Sea Pool, Cornwall
The sea pool has been around since the 1930s on the South West Coast Path just above Summerleaze Beach in Bude and is ideal for those who want to enjoy the sea without the fear of true open-water. Located right on the beach, the semi-natural pool is topped up by the waves in high tide so it is best enjoyed in low tide. The huge size of 88 metres by 50 metres makes it an ideal exercising space.
Entry is free.
For more information check the Bude Tourist Office.
Thermae Spa open-air pool, Bath
Not technically a lido but it is open-air and certainly worth a visit to indulge in the thermae waters of Bath like the Romans, Victorians and everyone else did. The open-air pool is situated on the roof of the spa filled with mineral enriched water where you can enjoy amazing views of the beautiful city. Usually too packed with couples for any real swimming but a great place to relax tired muscles if you have been exercising elsewhere.
Entry £37 for 2 hour spa session and use of towel, robe & slippers
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