Prices have gone up at four of north London's most popular open water swimming spots

"Adult single tickets are now £5 instead of £4.80; concessions are £3 instead of £2.90 and a 12-month season ticket for just the bathing ponds has gone up from £150.50 to £157. The biggest price hike, however, was for the combined lido and ponds year-long season tickets. They went up from £268 to £348 - an increase of 29.85 percent."

"Swimmers are worried that the money made from tickets won't just be used for maintenance of the pools and that the swimming facilities are being used by the City of London Corporation to 'bankroll the rest of the Heath'. They claim that, based on recent decisions, the authority is 'completely out of touch' with the interests of people who use the park, lido and ponds."

"Papas Del Sol, a collective made up of regulars at the lido and men's pond, told the paper: '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 corporation's plans for the future of the Heath include introducing large-scale events and 'income-generating' activities such as ticketed festivals and installing a padel court and more saunas."

The City of London Corporation increased ticket prices for Hampstead Heath’s lido and three bathing ponds. Some increases were small, while others rose by nearly 30 percent. Adult single tickets now cost £5 instead of £4.80, concessions cost £3 instead of £2.90, and a 12-month season ticket for the bathing ponds increased from £150.50 to £157. The combined lido and ponds year-long season ticket rose from £268 to £348, a 29.85 percent increase. Swimmers expressed concern that ticket revenue would not be limited to maintenance and would instead support broader spending. Future plans include large-scale events, ticketed festivals, and adding facilities such as a padel court and more saunas.

Read at Time Out London