Question of the week: What's one of your favourite non-touristy things to do in London? "Through sleet, freezing fog, gales and even the occasional bout of sunshine, Londoners love their open-air swimming. Well, a small minority of fool-hardy Londoners, anyway. The traditional Peter Pan Cup race has been held every Christmas in the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park since 1864, but the Lido is open all year round and I’d recommend going soon, and well before the water freezes over. If you’re not inclined to brave the waters, take a pedalo boat for a (rather slow) spin on the lake.
If you find that you get a taste for open-air swimming, head up to the stunningly beautiful swimming ponds on Hampstead Heath. There are three (one for men, one for women and one mixed pool), all tucked away in leafy corners of the park so tranquil that you could easily forget that you’re in the heart of a bustling metropolis."
- Phillippa Howarth
* Photo by Ben Hanbury, used under Creative Commons.
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