No need to splash the cash on an expensive holiday abroad to go swimming when there are many great places for a quick dip right here in London…

Not all of us have a summer holiday abroad to look forward to, with the prospect of a leisurely lounge on a beach to keep us motivated at work. If it’s an outdoor swim you’re after though, there’s actually ample opportunity to indulge right in Londonl. London has some fabulously maintained outdoor lidos. Many of London's outdoor swimming pools are open until September – British summer permitting!

Located in Hyde Park, the Serpentine Lido is one of the oldest lidos in London and has provided a perfect place for keen swimmers and sunbathers for over 100 years. The outdoor pool is a 110-yard stretch, to satisfy even the fittest of swimmers. It’s also great for a family day out, as there’s a paddle pool for children. The Serpentine pool is open daily from 10am-6pm until 13 September. 

Some of the best of the rest of London’s outdoor swimming pools include Hornsey Park Road Lido near Crouch End, the historic Tooting Bec Lido, Brockwell Lido in Herne Hill, Hampstead Heath Lido and London Fields Lido in Hackney.

If the forecast is good, get yourself down to your nearest outdoor swimming pool for a swim and a sneaky sunbathe. Your work colleagues will never guess that your new healthy glow was achieved without an expensive weekend abroad…

Want to brush up on you swimming strokes? Find swimming lessons in London and swimming classes across the UK.