Swimming is an excellent way to stay fit and have fun whilst doing it. Kensington and Chelsea offer many excellent swimming pools for locals to use regularly or for more infrequent use. Many gyms also have pools in the area, but let’s be honest, the membership for these gyms can get pricey.
The Chelsea Sports Centre is a good place to swim laps and work out, whilst the Serpentine Lido is a fun option to take the kiddos for a splash around. Some of the best childhood memories are ones that involve swimming, so put away those video games and dive right in!
Please note: On this page we only list public swimming baths which can be used by anyone - including both members and non members alike. In addition to these, however, many gyms also have small lap pools that you may be interested in. For more information, see our gyms in K&C page.
The Chelsea Sports Centre has two pools. There is a fitness pool for swimming laps, which is 25 metres long and has 4 lanes. There is also a pool specifically for teaching people how to swim – this one is 10 metres by 5 metres. There are two changing rooms available for before and after your swim.
If you find swimming laps a bit dull, the Chelsea Sports Centre also provides a few classes within the water, such as “SwimFit” for swimmers who wish to improve their fitness. They also have “Water Workout”, which is essentially a group exercise class taken place within a pool.
And for those of you who cannot swim, the Chelsea Sports Centre provides swim classes and private teachers for swim lessons.
In the summer months, you may hear faint splashing and merriment from along the Serpentine’s edge in Hyde Park – this is undoubtedly the Serpentine Lido. The Serpentine Lido offers a 30 metre by 100 metre-marked area of the Serpentine for members of the public to use for swimming. In addition to the swim area, there is a sun bathing area on the deck, a kiosk to buy cold drinks and sandwiches, as well as a children’s play area with a slide and a paddling pool. Additionally, the water of the marked area is tested weekly to ensure the health and safety of swimmers.
The Lido is open to swimmers from the May Day bank holiday and on weekends in the month of May. It remains open 7 days a week in the summer from June to September. As with most London venues, it is best to reserve a place in advance to avoid disappointment.