November 2024: 7am - 2.00pm last entry, till Nov 24th, then 7.30am - 2.30pm
Please check the City of London website here for details.
Current water temperature: around 11C (Nov 10th 2024)
Current circuit length "Interim Ropes": around 210m (Nov 10th) (This is around the outside of the ropes, swimming under the jetty. )
(When the water gets down to ~8C the length will be reduced to ~120m. Full summer length is ~320m)
We are experimenting with methods to share real-time and historical temperatures here. See the chart to the left (or above on mobile). We currently have several sensors in the water and air; the water is around 11C; the air is lower. Don't read too much into the small variations!
Updating the chart on the website is still manual for now.
Public transport:
Parking on Millfield Lane N6 6JD. Pay & Display Monday - Friday 10:00 - 12:00. 90 minutes maximum. Otherwise free parking (but somewhat restricted places). Millfield lane is one-way by the pond.
You can usually tie up friendly dogs 🐕🦺 near the sentry box at the entrance, at the city steward's discretion, and bikes can be locked to the stout metal railings - at your own risk of course 😬. There is a new rather unfriendly 8' high fence made of 2-3mm wire - we don't recommend locking a bike to this as it doesn't look very robust.
The path from Millfield lane to the pond compound entrance is rough gravel. It's possible to enter from there into the changing area without steps, but getting to the water still requires steps, and then a variety of near-vertical step-ladders to get in. An accessible changing hut with modern railings has been constructed over the past 2 years but is still(!) not yet complete or usable. Contact the City for up-to-date accessibility details.
Charges: Compulsory charging to enter and swim is now in place, despite lengthy opposition from the HMPA. Currently £4.70 for a full adult swim, or £2.80 concessions.
Booking: Slot booking for the peak periods operates from around May to September each year. 90% of the time it is still possible to just turn up and pay to swim at the Men's; but watch out for hot busy weekend afternoons! When the booking levels get higher, the stewards and lifeguards start to enforce the slots. This means:
11 - 12: Last entry 11am; out of water 11.30; out of compound 11.45; no entry until 12noon! HMPA strongly oppose this slot structure.
Further slots all afternoon till about 6pm, enforcing a rigid hourly cycle.