The Best Way To Cool Off In Hampstead

So yesterday may have been one of the hottest days on the planet. Ok, maybe not, but it has to have been the hottest day we've had in May for a very long time. So what's the best way to cool down this summer in Hampstead?

Well needless to say, a good swim is always going to be the easiest way. There seems to be a severe lack of pools around the Hampstead area, the only ones I am aware of are UCS Active down near the Finchley road (so does it even count as Hampstead?) and... Actually, that's it. It seems someone should get about building one...

However, since we're in Hampstead, we're lucky enough to have access to one of the best things in London during the summer, and that's the Hampstead public ponds. I used the ponds on the few occasions last summer when we had hot days, and they were great. There's nothing like swimming out in the open.

For those who don't know, there are three ponds in Hampstead Heath that can be used for swimming. There are the separate male and female ponds which appear on Google Maps as the Highgate Ponds. As you probably guessed, these are single sex ponds and the male one is notorious for being popular amongst gay man. Yet these two ponds are a lot quieter then the mixed pond so if you're heading down alone or in a single sex group, this is probably your best bet! To get to them, grab the 210 bus to the end of Millfield Lane or you can walk from Hampstead or Archway, although both of those are a 15 minute walk, and the general idea here is to cool down so maybe that's not the best idea!

For the mixed pond, head to Hampstead Heath rail station (either by train or bus) and head up South End road. Once you reach the Heath, just start following the paths towards the centre and you'll logically come across the pond. On a hot day it's very difficult to miss. And yes, it gets pretty crowded so get there early if you want to be right next to the water. Although there's a nice hill next to it, so if you want somewhere to set up camp for the day where people won't be squeezing past you, head up there.

The ponds are open all year round, (although you'd have to be brave, or slightly mad, to use them in the winter) and they're open from seven until around six in the evening. A little bird told me however that on some Wednesdays during the summer they can stay open until eight.