The pond opens at 7 am and last entry is currently at 8.15pm. You must leave the pond by 8.45 pm. Please check the City of London website here for opening hours after August 16.
On warm (weekend) afternoons, slot booking is advisable to guarantee entry. Click here to book a one-hour slot. Before 11 am, after 6.30 pm and on colder days you can usually just rock up and swim as long as you like.
In the colder months from September onwards there is no need or possibility to book.
Charges: Compulsory charging to enter and swim is now in place, despite lengthy opposition from our association. The current price is £4.80 for a single swim. Season tickets are much better value if you swim more than three times per month, they are £79.50 for six months or £150 for a year.
Concessions: Students, swimmers on universal credit and several other state benefits, disabled swimmers or those 60 and over pay a reduced fee of £2.90 for a single swim. Season tickets for those eligible are £47.70 for six months or £90 for a year.
Swimmers' support fund: If you are unable to afford a season ticket, even at the concessionary rate, the association will be happy to consider paying the cost on your behalf. To learn more, please email hmpa.membership@gmail.com.
Free swims: If you are under 16 or 60+ you can swim for free provided you enter before 9.30 am.
Next to the pond there is an open-air changing area with two communal cold showers and a separate toilet block. You are welcome to bring soap to rinse off the pond water. Lockers are not provided. If possible, please only apply sunscreen after swimming to avoid contaminating the ponds.
The circuit length is ~320 meters. Current water temperature is around 20.5°C (June 20, 2025). On sunny days the surface temperature rises a few degrees in quieter spots in the pond.
The water quality of the Men's Pond has consistently been rated "excellent" (the highest possible rating) by the City of London. Fresh water enters the pond from a few springs south of Kenwood House via a number of upstream ponds.
Water samples are taken regularly and you can access all of the data on this Environment Agency webpage.
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; there is now a dedicated dog pound.
Bikes can be locked to the stout metal railings, or the new green dedicated bike park - at your own risk of course.
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 two years but is not yet complete or usable. The association is tracking this issue closely. Please contact the City for up-to-date accessibility details.
Closures due to inclement weather are generally reported on this City of London page. We also try to make members aware of any closures through the members-only WhatsApp group that you can sign up for when you become a member.
Pond photographs copyright © Ben White - All Rights Reserved. For any use please contact Highgate Men's Pond Association through hmpa.membership@gmail.com.