Inside the most A-list lido in London that only costs £5 to enter – with Harry Styles and Andrew Garfield as fans
SWIM UP Inside the most A-list lido in London that only costs £5 to enter – with Harry Styles and Andrew Garfield as fans
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THE weather is heating up, summer is on its way, and there is a UK lido where you can go for a swim as well as a bit of celeb spotting.
Celebrity-loved places are often exclusive to high-end clubs or restaurants, but Hampstead Heath is one where even 'normal' folk can visit for less than a fiver.
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The Hampstead Heath ponds and lido are a popular spot for locals and A-listers
Credit: Alamy
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There are three outdoor ponds and a lido on Parliament Hill
Credit: Alamy
Hampstead Heath has a choice of three ponds where visitors can swim for £4.80.
There's the mixed pool, as well as Kenwood Ladies' and Highgate Men's pond - and there's Parliament Hill Fields Lido just down the road.
The natural bathing ponds attract around 700,000 people every year and are often described as "a treasure" and one of "London's fantastic green gems" by visitors.
Despite feeling quite secluded by those who visit, there are lifeguards on duty.
None of the swim spots have changing facilities, so you'll have to wear your swim gear underneath your clothes. There are toilets and an outdoor shower.
Lots of swimmers like to clamber out and enjoy a picnic on the grassy banks afterwards too.
With lots of celebrities calling Hampstead Heath home, it's no surprise that a few familiar faces have been spotted cooling off in the ponds over the years.
Harry Styles, the ex-One Direction star, has been seen multiple times enjoying the bathing ponds.
One summer, he had temperatures soaring even higher when he practised his diving skills.
One onlooker said: 'He kept a low profile and went mostly unrecognised. He was swimming laps and practising his diving.'
Easter Sunday sunshine shots on Hampstead Heath and in Kings Cross
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Parliament Hill Lido is unheated and open all year round
Credit: Times Media Ltd
Hollywood A-lister Woody Harrelson, who's known for his roles in the Hunger Games and Zombieland, has enjoyed the water at the Men's Pond.
According to Camden New Journal, Woody didn't bring a pair of swimming trunks with him, so he borrowed a pair of swimming trunks from a lifeguard.
Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, actor Benedict Cumberbatch and broadcaster Dermot O'Leary are also said to be frequent swimmers.
Back in 2018, Kendall Jenner stripped off for a project that was filmed in the ponds for Love Magazine's 10th anniversary issue.
Spider-Man, aka actor Andrew Garfield, also revealed he's a regular in the London waters.
Talking to Time Out, he said: "I love swimming in Hampstead Ponds. You feel close to nature – it's such a rare, beautiful thing."
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During the summer swimming in the ponds has to be booked in advance
Credit: Alamy
During busy periods in the summer months (starting May 26), you will need to book a slot before heading down to the ponds or pool.
Tickets are available through Eventbrite for £4.60.
Bookable slots are between the hours of 12pm and 6pm with each being for for a 50 minute swim session.
Tickets are released through Eventbrite on Mondays at 12pm for the following seven days (Tuesday to Monday).
The morning sessions between the hours of 7am-11.30am and the evening sessions between 6.30pm-8.30pm are on a first come first served basis.
If it's busy, then there will be queues outside - which there often are when temperatures rise.
The Highgate Men's Pond and Kenwood Ladies' Pond are open year-round.
Hampstead Mixed Pond is open from mid-April to October and in winter it's only open to members of the Hampstead Heath Winter Swimming Club.
For any regulars, it could be worth investing in a season ticket.
For Parliament Hill Lido this costs £240 for 12 months. A year-long membership to the ponds costs £150, and a combined membership is £268.
For anyone not in the capital, here are the UK's best outdoor water parks and lidos.
And good news for any outdoor swimmers in Portsmouth as the UK's deepest lido is reopening this summer.
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