The Serpentine Lido

A hugely popular swimming venue, every summer Hyde Park's lovely lake invites London folk to plunge into its watery depths. It's a great option for aqua fun in the very heart of the city. The Serpentine itself was created in 1730 by damming the Westbourne - a small tributary of the River Thames - in order that Queen Caroline might have a spot for the royal yachts to mess about on. People have been taking a dip in these regal waters for hundreds of years. Essentially a cornered off area of the lake, the swimming area is found on the south side of the expanse of water and is clearly roped off. This doesn't stop the odd duck roaming among the swimmers. Beside the lido area there is a lovely sunbathing spot where an attractively tiled veranda hosts many a lounging sun worshipper hoping to soak up some rays. They have a fairly decent range of available deck chairs (for a small fee) if you really want to chill-out in comfort. Frazzled parents can enjoy an hour of respite as their inexhaustible tots happily splash around in the delightful paddling pool. If you get peckish, The Lido Cafe next door is a very pleasant little spot for a snack. It really is a great environment for summer fun and surprisingly continental on a warm day.