London Fields Lido
London Fields Lido London Fields West Side Hackney E8 3EU
Walk through London Fields on any sunny weekend and you might be at pains to name the urban festival you've stumbled into, such is the swathe of sun-kissed bodies, blaring beats, barbecue fumes and assorted voguish youngsters descending on this patch of greenery via Broadway Market and Dalston. Victoria Park , about a 15 minute walk away, is a peaceful escape, and on the park's west side towards the tennis courts there's London Fields Lido, where – with the exception of the war years – Hackneyites have frolicked since 1932. But what the Luftwaffe couldn't blitz, the bulldozers might well have were it not for the dogged efforts of local campaigners. After 18 years of lying dormant, the beloved lido was reopened in 2006. Since its rebirth, London’s only 50-metre heated (a refreshingly mild 25°C) outdoor pool has proven amazingly popular with trendy locals and young families alike. The refurb has also brought excellent disabled facilities, bike racks and The Hoxton Beach Cafe , serving up 'the best falafel in London'. With its colourful bunting and multi-coloured lockers shouting seaside kitsch, there are few better places to spend a sunny afternoon in Hackney than its spacious poolside sun terrace.
