Kenwood Ladies Bathing Pond
Hampstead Heath Free (donation of £2.00 suggested)
Part of a series of ponds, Kenwood Ladies Bathing Pond is the only female-only wild swimming spot in the UK. Founded in the late 17th century by Hampstead Water Works Company, it was originally erected as a reservoir, only officially becoming the ladies pond we know today in 1926 (although people were swimming in it way before this).
Situated on the East of Hampstead Heath, just off Millfield Lane, the pond opens at 7am, 7 days a week. Closing times vary, with later openings during summer – at the time of writing this the ponds close at 6:30pm, with an official cut off for everyone to be off the premises at 6:45pm. Age restrictions are based at 8 and above and there are no official entry fees, although a donation of £2 is recommended.
If Hampstead Heath is a Narnia outside of typical London life, then the lady’s pond is the centre of this eudaimonian space. Filled with forests, hills, epic views over the capital and unique nature, the Heath is bursting at the seams with natural beauty. The pond itself is hidden up a path whose light only bursts through when there is a break in the branches from the overhead wind. Completely enclosed with a mix of weeping willows and big oaks, if you hadn’t already been transported far out of the city then you definitely will be now.
The pond has a lot to offer in terms of aesthetics but is equally impressive for the atmosphere which surrounds it. An infamous hub of supportive, influential female power and friendship; if you don’t come for a swim, you can come for the chat, or the marvellous secrets you may overhear in the (very clean) changing rooms. Upon arriving there were no stares, no laughs when I went down the wrong set of stairs into the pond (obvious newbies), and nothing apart from a polite request to put away our phone when we didn’t realise it was a no photo zone (still managed to capture a cheeky snap though!)
My only word of warning for an otherwise thoroughly pleasant experience would be BEWARE of the temperature. I have been wild swimming a few times, and I am a big fan of the freezing plunge pools you come across in spas. This, however, was freezing to an entirely different degree. Granted, I went on a Sunday with little sleep and a raging hangover, so it’s no surprise I was gasping like a breathless chimp (some ape like noises were made). My breathlessness was so bad I was asked to get out for a few minutes by the lifeguard, much to my embarrassment…
Despite the shaky start, I got straight back in again and once I got a control over my breaths, enjoyed an exhilarating, bracing, and rejuvenating swim up and down the pond. Even with the embarrassing start, I didn’t once feel uncomfortable, which kind of lends itself to the supportive atmosphere which surrounds this place as I would have been mortified had the same happened anywhere else. Overall, Kenwood Ladies Bathing Pond is a unique, original and beautiful way to spend a sunny afternoon... or a snowy one if you’re brave enough.
OVERALL RATING: *****
http://www.klpa.org.uk/
