Charlton Lido

After a conference in central London, I had some time to kill before meeting my youngest son in Southampton for his university open day. So, what better way to break up the journey than a swim at the legendary Charlton Lido?

The pool is a slightly heated outdoor 50m beauty – perfect for a mid-journey dip. I managed to get in a solid 1,500m swim, averaging a 1:34/100m pace. Not bad considering it’s a bit chillier than I’d like for an outdoor swim in the UK! But the heated water definitely made a difference.

Now, I’ll admit, I did have a drone in the boot of my car and briefly thought about getting an aerial shot of the pool. However, I quickly dismissed the idea. It was a bit too busy, and I could easily imagine a platoon of pensioners charging out of the car park, all rallying to hunt down the drone operator!

In terms of the cost, I think I heard right – £12 for a swim. I wasn’t fully listening as I tapped my card for the contactless payment (it’s just too convenient now), but I get it – outdoor heated pools in the UK aren’t cheap to maintain. Still, the facilities were fantastic, and you really can’t beat swimming outdoors.