London Fields Lido opened for “test swimming” on Sunday 22nd October having been closed since 1988.   The lido is due to open to the public at the end of October.   Andy Hoines, who co-edits the London section of www.lidos.org.uk, here records his experience.

This morning, my wife and I joined in the preview swim arranged for local organisations and swimming clubs.  Despite it being a grey and drizzly autumn morning, by 10am there was an enthusiastic throng awaiting entry, including one in slightly inappropriate Hawaiian shorts and T-shirt!  Others sported impressive swimming caps indicating that they were refugees from Tooting Bec, or were having a day off from swimming the channel!

With some nifty footwork, at 10:01, I managed to be the first to dive in!  Unfortunately, despite the deep end being 1.8m and sloping to 2.0m, this is not allowed and I also became the first to be told off by the lifeguards!

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