Best outdoor swimming pools and lidos in the UK

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Serpentine Lido, London open image in gallery A rowing boat on Serpentine Lake Billed as “arguably London’s most iconic ‘open water’ swimming location”, the 100m-long Serpentine Lido is located in Hyde Park. Sandford Parks Lido, Gloucestershire The summer season at this 50m heated pool – the UK’s largest outdoor swimming pool – opens on 4 May, with the lido open for cold water swimming until then. Stonehaven Open Air Pool, Aberdeenshire open image in gallery Swimmers at the Stonehaven Open Air Pool Originally opened in 1934, the UK’s “only Art Deco Olympic-sized sea water lido” served as a bathing facility for locally-based troops during the Second World War. Prices and opening times From 27 May to 17 September, the lido is open between 10am and 6pm every day during school holidays, with several 30-minute breaks between sessions.