Your hot-weather survival guide: 10 pools, lakes and beaches near East London where children can actually get in the water this summer. A few are free, a couple are a trek, and one shiny new arrival turned out to be trickier than its “all ages” billing suggests.
Here’s a fact to cool you down on a hot day: Victoria Park was once home to the largest lido in London! Opened in 1936, the “gem of the East End” drew swimmers for half a century until it closed in 1990 and was paved over for a car park. They literally paved paradise and put up a parking lot…
Fast forward to today, and our Mayor has pledged to build East Enders a brand new lido in Victoria Park. We’ll believe it when we’re swimming in it, but it’s a nice thought, and it points to something true: this corner of London takes its swimming seriously. So why is it suddenly so hard to find somewhere a child can actually get in the water under the bright blue ceiling of the sky?
Because here’s the funny thing about London’s great open-water boom. There’s never been more places to swim! We’ve got floating lidos, freshwater docks, glass-fronted saunas, wetsuit concierges, the lot! But rarely have so few of them seemed to have children in mind.
Take Sea Lanes Canary Wharf, East London’s glossy new arrival, which we were genuinely excited about. The marketing says “all ages.” The small print is murkier: one page says children of eight can swim unaccompanied, another says twelve, and when we went looking for an actual session to bring a child to, we came up empty-handed. It’s a beautiful pool. We’re just not yet convinced it’s one for the under-10s but still hoping to be proved wrong. Is it so hard to have a little shallow end to paddle about in? At least West Reservoir in Hackney, doesn’t pretend otherwise: fourteen and over, no exceptions. Let’s hope
The irony is that Tower Hamlets already funds free swimming for parents and carers who swim with their kids. The will is there. The water, somehow, often isn’t.
So consider this our hot-weather public service: a round-up of spots near East London where children genuinely are welcome to get in the water this summer. Some are free, some cost a few quid, and yes, a couple are a fair old trek. But every one will actually let your kids swim all be it in a very tight school.
Lutfur, we’re still holding you to that campaign promise, a lido in Vicky Park. And I don’t mean another festival that shuts down half the park.
*Please check with each venue before travelling for availability and opening times.
The big new opening: Sea Lanes Canary Wharf
The shiny new arrival everyone’s talking about: a 50-metre floating pool in the middle of Canary Wharf’s Eden Dock, with naturally filtered freshwater, six lanes and a pair of waterside saunas. It’s a proper destination for cold-water swimmers and sauna-heads, though, as we found, its family credentials are murkier than the “all ages” billing suggests. Let’s hope some bookable sessions with kids appear soon.
If you find a bookable session for under 18s can you contact me?
Lidos & Paddling Pools near East London
Coram Fields Paddling Pool
A short ride on the central line or the number 8 bus will take you to paddling pool paradise. This lovely park is steeped in history and has existed solely for children and young people for 80 years! Adults are only allowed in if accompanied by a child and it’s delightful in the summer with a fantastic playground and sand pit.
Open Spring and Summer months
93 Guilford St, London WC1N 1DN
London Fields Lido
While I’m upset they took the paddling pool away, the Lido is great to have and there are plans to open a new teaching pool designed by the same people who gave us Brittania Leisure Centre, although it was meant to be opening this summer and there have been no updates. Make sure to book well in advance if the weather is looking especially nice. If you have a membership you get access to slots earlier so it might be worth investing if you plan on coming often. Book swim for families on the Better app.
Open all year
London Fields Lido, London Fields West Side, Hackney, London, E8 3EU
Kids Summer Splash at Royal Docks
Royal Docks Summer Splash is back, offering delightful dock swimming, deckchair chilling, and super sandpits. Featuring a shallow end for younger children, this large lido built into Royal Victoria Dock provides a refreshing place to cool off for free this Summer. Jump in the water, create sand masterpieces, and enjoy free summer activities. Please note each child under the age of 8 must be accompanied by one adult 1:1, if using the lido. This year there will also be some crafting sessions and film screenings.
Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1A6
Free
Charlton Lido
Around 30 mins drive or you can hop on the DLR to Woolich Arsenal where it’s a 13 min bus ride to a long stretch of 50M lido loveliness. There’s a smaller paddling pool for the kids. The water is heated and the lockers take contactless payment- why aren’t all lockers like this now? There is pay and display parking if you are driving. Very popular and bookings can only be made 1 week in advance.
Charlton Lido and Lifestyle Club, Hornfair Park, Shooters Hill Rd, London
Winn’s Common
The closest station to Winn’s Common is a 22 minute bus journey from Woolich Station, which is on the Elizabeth Line or take the DLR to Woolich Arsenal for an equally long journey by bus but with less walking. The Green Chain Walk passes through as part of Plumstead Common so you could potentially walk partway through London’s scenic South East London greenbelt. A large expanse of flat grassland with an onsite playground and a refreshing dip awaits. The pool may be closed for maintenance.
Winn Common Road, Plumstead SE18
Free
Beaches & Lakes near East London
Fairlop Waters Country Park
Under an hour in the car or head straight out on the Central Line to Fairlop and it’s an 8 min walk to this beautiful lake, surrounded by lush green parklands. Kids should be able to swim to scramble around on the inflatables but they also provide wetsuits and lifejackets.
There’s a great cafe screening major sporting events and a Greek restaurant to calm the post swim tummy rumbles. When you get bored of being in the water, you can hire a bicycle for your whole family, kayaks, canoes, pedalos, SUP and more. Hire prices are around £20+ There’s also boulder climing, playgrounds, Fairlop High Ropes, an indoor Owl’s Play Centre and a little fairground with rides at around £2-£3 per go.
We had a great day out when we visited although it wasn’t quite warm enough for us to get in the water. Check out our reel.
Forest Rd, Ilford IG6 3HN
Aqua Park Lakeside – Alexandra Lake
If you’re not driving, it’s just 22 mins on the train from West Ham to Chafford Hundred then a 10 min walk to Aqua Park Lakeside where an inflatable assault course awaits. The course includes 30 obstacles, giant bouncy slides, blast bags and monkey bars. Children can play as young as 6 but will need an adult to supervise at a ratio of 1:3. You can hire a wetsuit or bring your own or brave the chill. Mini golf, rock climbing and a trampoline park can be found at Lakeside Shopping Centre.
Alexandra Lake South, Lakeside Shopping Centre, West Thurrock, Grays RM20 2AB
Stubbers Adventure Centre
This very popular Adventure Centre has a LOT going on for older children from banana boating to kayaking to archery to axe throwing, yes axe throwing. There’s Adventure Play Areas with a Young Adventurers area and big size play areas including climbing, spinners and swings, a Woodland Discovery Trail with play features and den build area and a Young Adventurers Sand Play and Paddle Beach.
Stubbers Cottage Ockendon Road, Upminster RM14 2TY, England
Chalkwell Beach
Less busy that Southend-on Sea, Chalkwell is just 37 mins from West Ham station on the air conditioned C2C and just a 2 min walk from station to beach. The beach is a combination of sand, shallow waters, with a seawater paddling pool and lifeguard services during peak times. Children can enjoy beach combing and playing with tiny crabs. Tuck into some Fish n Chips and it’s back to London. Make sure to check the tides before you go. South End Pier is a 5 min taxi ride away should you want to take the kids for some amusement park fun.
Open daily
Southend-on-Sea, England
Free
Bell Wharf Beach
Hop on the C2C from Limehouse or Barking for Leigh Beach also known as Bell Wharf Beach. While this sand and shingle beach is quite small, it can be a little less bustling than other beaches near London and has received a ‘good’ for water cleanliness. Located in Leigh-on-Sea, which is less arcades – more traditional fishing village atmosphere, with cockle sheds, cobbled streets, and fresh seafood. A great spot for some fish and chips, and easy to access from London.
Open daily
Leigh-on-Sea
Free
Some very clever people were campaigning for a Lido in Waltham Forest. Fingers crossed The East London Waterworks Park goes through some day. It truly was a beatiful dream. Find out more here.