Hampstead Mixed Pond
Mixed Pond is a natural bathing pond and one of London's best open air swimming spots.
Facilities
- Lifeguards on duty
- Changing rooms
- Outdoor cold showers
Restrictions
- Strong swimmers only. The ponds are deep and can be very cold
- Children aged 8-15 must be accompanied by an adult. 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 | £4.05 | £2.43 |
Payments can be made by cash (no change given) or contactless card.
Contact details will be taken by staff to comply with the Government's Test and Trace scheme.
Season tickets are also available. See below for details.
Opening times (21 July onwards)
Currently there is a mixture of free-flow sessions (no advance booking required) and some sessions which must be booked in advance.
| Time | Free flow or pre-book only |
| 07.00 - 11.00 | Free flow (last entry at 11.00) |
| 12.00 - 13.00 | Pre-book |
| 13.15 - 14.15 | Pre-book |
| 14.30 - 15.30 | Pre-book |
| 15.45 - 16.45 | Pre-book |
| 17.00 - 20.30 | Free flow (last entry at 20.00) |
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 the Pond, thank you for your support. You can make an additional donation to Hampstead Heath (Registered Charity no. 803392).
The Hampstead Mixed Pond is located near East Heath Road on Hampstead Heath.
Public transport
The nearest stations to the Men's Pond are:
- Hampstead Heath on the Overground Line (7 minute walk)
- Hampstead on the Northern Line (13 minute walk)
Visit TfL's Journey Planner to plan your trip to the Pond.
Parking
There is parking available at East Heath Car Park.
Pre-book sessions can be booked online using Eventbrite. Season ticket holders will be able to book a ‘free’ session but must bring their season ticket wristband to tap in on arrival. Non-season ticket holders will pay for their ticket on Eventbrite.
Tickets will be released on Eventbrite every Monday at 12noon for the week ahead.
Cancelling booked tickets
If your plans change and you need to cancel, you will be able to do this through your Eventbrite account. Please do cancel any bookings you won't be using as this will free up the space for someone else to swim. If you have paid for a session through Eventbrite you will receive a refund for any bookings cancelled 24 hours before the session starts - again this is done through your Eventbrite account.
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 at the Lido or Parliament Hill office.
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.
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 over the age of 60 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 Carer option on the Season Ticket Application Form.
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
Following the discovery of a blocked sewer north of Kenwood Ladies’ Pond on 17 September 2020, a series of water quality tests were commissioned by the City of London. The results of these are available on the Environment Agency website.
Following lockdown all swimmers will need to be careful. The water temperature is still cold and you will need to start the habituation process again. Please read our cold water swimming guidelines for more information.