City of London Corporation Raises Hampstead Heath Swimming Prices 29.85 Percent
The City of London Corporation raised swimming prices at hampstead heath this month, lifting the cost of a combined lido and bathing pond season ticket from £268 to £348. The increase also took effect across the lido and three bathing ponds, with adult single tickets now £5 and concession tickets £3.
A combined season ticket has risen by 29.85 percent, while some other tickets went up by 10p to 20p. For regular swimmers using the four open-water sites, the change is immediate: the price for a year of access is now higher, and the steepest rise is on the ticket that covers both the lido and the ponds.
Papas Del Sol
Papas Del Sol, a collective of regulars at the lido and men’s pond, said the increase was too sharp to accept. “A 30 percent increase in one year confirms this. We are extremely concerned, and not just a little furious, about this price hike. We now expect CoL to increase the price year on year, such to line their own pockets, turn the Heath into a commercial enterprise, with the net effect of excluding the people who can most benefit from outdoor swimming and contact with nature.”
The complaint goes beyond the ticket desk. Swimmers told Camden New Journal they were worried the money would not be used only for maintenance of the pools, and said the swimming facilities were being used by the City of London Corporation to bankroll the rest of the Heath. That concern sits against the corporation’s own plan to introduce large-scale events and income-generating activities such as ticketed festivals, along with a padel court and more saunas.
City of London Corporation
The corporation has run Hampstead Heath since 1987, and a City spokesperson said most swimming fees rose in line with inflation. “Most swimming fees rose in line with inflation. As a registered charity, the Heath reinvests all income into maintaining and improving facilities.”
The spokesperson also said the charges pay for day-to-day operations. “Charges fund staffing, lifeguarding, water-quality monitoring, and upkeep to keep the Ponds and Lido safe, clean, and accessible, while the wider Heath remains free to enjoy at no cost to taxpayers. Concessions and free early morning sessions support accessibility.”
For frequent swimmers, the corporation is steering them toward the most expensive option with a savings pitch attached. “A combined lido and bathing pond season ticket offers multi-site access and 15 per cent savings, providing the best value for regular swimmers.”
That still leaves the same practical choice for people who swim often: pay more for a single site, pay far more for year-round combined access, or use concessions and early-morning sessions where those fit their routine. The price rise has landed this month, and the dispute is now over what the extra income will support at Hampstead Heath.
