http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33546 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33546 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31907 The Art Deco Grade II listed building was recently renovated, extended and transformed and now offers fantastic health and fitness facilities all year round.
The Lido is managed in partnership with Fusion, a registered charity, who also run Camberwell's freshly-renovated baths.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31907 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31355 Now painted bright white inside, Camberwell’s pool has balconies lining the high walls, recalling those ancient, darker, brick-walled Victorian pools where I did my bronze medal life-saving awards many moons ago. The re-tiled 25m pool has very warm (for my chilly Atlantic and Irish Sea childhood training!) water and the clean, but damp changing rooms are also a little overheated. One drawback is the incredibly complicated opening time system, to cope with all the different sessions on offer, from aqua aerobics to ‘splash and floats’ to swim school. There are also many opportunities for lane swims, women-only swimming and general watery mayhem. When the lane system is in operation, some go clockwise, some anti-clockwise; I'm not sure why this is ... an anti-wave idea perhaps?!
The Victorian public baths first opened in 1892, and the grade II listed façade is in the Flemish Renaissance style, which explains why I always had a vaguely Antwerpian feeling when walking past!
There is also a friendly café, a gym and a sports hall within the historic, buffed up walls.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31355 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27209 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27209 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27205 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27205 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27190 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27190 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27156 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27156 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20272 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20272 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19673
It also has a fabulous set of places to drink inside, an onsite bowling alley and a Cowshed spa. Very possibly the best place to chill out in the capital.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19673 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13657
It is operated by GLL so facilities are spartan but it is fab and clean. Entry is less than £4 and the pool is open from 6.30am (mon-fri) or 8am to 8pm.

Lockers are poolside (20p) and changing rooms and showers are inside and out. There is also sunbathing space around the pool.

It is a blissful place to plough up and down: no gimmicky wave machines or even inflatables here.

Be aware, though, that if it really really rains, then you will be thrown out of the pool as visibility is reduced.

Sad irony that London summers mean that it is too wet to swim.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13657