Swimming Ponds
Hampstead has three different ponds for swimming - one for men, one for women and one mixed. Only swimmers over eight years of age are allowed; those between eight and 15 years old must be in the care of an adult.
The men's pond had a diving tower but this was dismantled following an accident in the 1970s and only a low level board remains, along with showers and a small sunbathing and changing area.
Winter swimming is usually possible at all three ponds, which remain very popular with users. The Corporation of London website publishes water quality tests. The three ponds are not to be confused with Parliament Hill Lido, built in 1938, now with a stainless steel lining.
The ponds may close soon for a prolonged period of time to enable 3m high dams to be built. The City of London Corporation has said the work will be carried out urgently to save thousands of lives which could be lost in the event of one of the dams bursting.
Read more about this topic: Hampstead Ponds
Famous quotes containing the words swimming and/or ponds:
“Awareness of having better things to do with their lives is the secret to immunizing our children against false valueswhether presented on television or in real life. The child who finds fulfillment in music or reading or cooking or swimming or writing or drawing is not as easily convinced that he needs recognition or power or some high to feel worthwhile.”
—Polly Berrien Berends (20th century)
“Every incident connected with the breaking up of the rivers and ponds and the settling of the weather is particularly interesting to us who live in a climate of so great extremes. When the warmer days come, they who dwell near the river hear the ice crack at night with a startling whoop as loud as artillery, as if its icy fetters were rent from end to end, and within a few days see it rapidly going out. So the alligator comes out of the mud with quakings of the earth.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)