Outdoor swimming is making waves across south east London, with two of the area's best-known lidos seeing growing numbers of visitors.
Brockwell Lido and Charlton Lido have seen a surge in visitors, with packed sessions during warmer weather as people turn to outdoor swimming for recreation and wellbeing.
With forecasts for another warm weekend, these pools are central to the changing leisure habits in the community.
READ MORE: Brockwell Lido named London’s best outdoor place to swim
On one hand, there is Brockwell Lido.
This 1930s Art Deco landmark has been an institution at the edge of Brockwell Park near Herne Hill for years.
The pool, now under the management of Active Lambeth, first opened in 1937.
Despite experiencing different periods of closures and subsequent re-openings, Brockwell Lido now stands as one of London’s most famous outdoor swimming locations.
The pool is as much a social hub as it is a swimming spot, complete with a café.
The Art Deco buildings and terrace often backdrop a variety of visitors, from serious lane swimmers and sunrise dippers to those stopping in for a coffee after a quick dip.
People from Dulwich, Forest Hill, and Catford frequent the lido, considering it as their nearest "proper" lido.
The lido is open all year round, accommodating regulars throughout the winter season, while also facing high demand for peak sessions as the weather gets warmer.
Many users now consider Brockwell Lido as part of their weekly wellbeing routine rather than just a place to cool off in a heatwave.
Across the boroughs, in Hornfair Park, Charlton Lido presents a different approach to outdoor swimming.
Refurbished and relaunched in the 2010s, the 50-metre heated pool serves as an open-air fitness hub.
The Lido is promoted as a "premium" facility, focusing on lane swimming, club use, and year-round fitness.
It caters perfectly for users who enjoy an occasional swim and for serious triathletes aiming for maximum distance.
Daily commuters, particularly early in the morning, and families during school holidays, constitute a large part of the user-base.
With its year-round offering and relatively affordable pricing, Charlton Lido provides a valuable health and recreation option to people from Greenwich, Woolwich, Eltham, and nearby Lewisham and Bexley.
Being more accessible than many private gyms and saving people a trip across the river for open air swimming, the modish 'lifestyle' centre attracts a considerable crowd with its gym, studios, and sun terraces.
However, the growing popularity of these areas has imposed certain pressures – especially during the peak hours.
Just like Brockwell, Charlton Lido often encounters fully booked sessions during warmer spells.
These sites are a barometer of wider debates about who public leisure spaces are for and how they should be funded.
When hot weekends hit, queues and booking systems can become flashpoints between regulars and occasional visitors.
Yet, the pools double as vital social and wellbeing spaces during off-peak periods, accommodating older residents, shift workers, and people managing long term health conditions.
Brockwell Lido and Charlton Lido offer much more than a swimming pool.
They serve as affordable recreational spaces for people without gardens and renters of small flats, providing a pleasant alternative to remaining indoors.
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