Swimming at Hampstead Heath
Highgate Men's Pond
Highgate Men's Pond is a natural bathing pond and one of London's best open air swimming spots.
Facilities
- Lifeguards on duty
- Changing rooms
- Toilets
Restrictions
- Strong swimmers only. The ponds are deep and can be very cold
- Children aged 8-15 must be accompanied by an adult. The maximum number of children per adult is two. All children will be asked to complete a Swim Test to show competency in the water when returning to the Bathing Ponds or swimming at the facility for the first time
- Once the facility reaches capacity entry will be managed at the gate
- Swim wear must be worn
- Assistance dogs only allowed in the facilities
- No lockers and valuables are left at your own risk
| Ticket | Adult price | Concession price |
|---|---|---|
| Single session | £4.25 | £2.55 |
Payments can be made by cash (no change given) or contactless card.
Opening times
| Period from | Open | Last entry | Vacate water | Vacate facility |
| 28 Nov 2022 | 7.30am | 2.30pm | 2.45pm | 3pm |
| 5 Feb 2023 | 7am | 2pm | 2.15pm | 2.30pm |
Advance bookings will not be required in the winter season, but if the Pond reaches capacity, a one-in-one out queue, managed by the Stewards, will be necessary.
Christmas Day Opening Times
Lido: 7am to 9.30am, last entry at 9am
Ladies’ Pond: 7.30am to 12noon, last entry 11.30am
Men’s Pond: 7.30am to 8.30am – men only, 8.30am to 10.30am - men’s and women’s Christmas dip- last year this session proved very popular so please make sure you arrive in good time and limit your dip to a few minutes to give everyone a chance to swim
Water temperature
We regularly tweet the water temperature at the pond on Twitter.
Donations
All money received from swimming is gratefully received and is reinvested to support the costs of lifeguarding and operating this Pond, thank you for your support. You can make an additional donation to Hampstead Heath (Registered Charity no. 803392).
The Men's Pond is located near to Millfield Lane on Hampstead Heath
Public transport
The nearest stations to the Men's Pond are:
- Gospel Oak on the Overground Line (17 minute walk)
- Kentish Town on the Northern Line (26 minute walk)
The 214 bus route also goes close to the Pond.
Visit TfL's Journey Planner to plan your trip to the Pond.
Parking
There is on-street parking available on Millfield Lane. Please make sure you check parking signs and follow any restrictions.
Concessions
Concessions apply to people in receipt of State Benefits including: Universal Credit, Job Seekers Allowance, Personal Independence Payments and Housing Benefit as well as people with a Freedom Pass; Disabled Card; Students, those 60 and over and under 16’s.
You will be asked to provide proof before you book.
Free morning swim
Those aged 60 and over are eligible for a free morning swim from 7am until 9.30am. You can apply for a free season ticket on our season ticket page.
Carers
Carers can accompany a swimmer for free. Choose the free Carer option on the Season Ticket Application form.
If you are a regular swimmer, you can save by getting a season ticket for the Lido, the Ponds or both. Visit our season ticket page to find out more - including prices - and buy your season ticket.
When you purchase a season ticket you will be issued with a wristband which you can use to 'tap in' when you swim. Replacement cost of lost wristband is £5 and replacement bands can be ordered online using the season ticket application form found on our season ticket page.
If you cannot fill in the Season Ticket Application online then paper copies will be available at the Bathing Ponds, Lido and Parliament Hill office.
Untreated Water
The levels of micro-organisms fluctuates in this untreated water. High levels pose a risk to your health and often occur after rain and where there is a lot of swimmers in the pond. The risk of illness is greater for children, the elderly or immunocompromised people and some overseas visitors, as they can have lower immunity. The dangers include: mild-gastroenteritis or eye, ear and respiratory infections. We recommend you consult a doctor if you have any health concerns, avoid swallowing pond water and shower before and after bathing.
Water quality
Weekly water quality tests are undertaken by the Environment Agency between May-September and test results are available to view on the Environment Agency website.
Please read our cold water swimming guidelines for more information.