Crazy idea: I've got a 7 hour layover in Heathrow on two occasions. As much as I like the new T5, 7 hours is a bit much. I want to get out of Heathrow and find a pool in which to grab a swim, ideally making use of public transit and ideally with generous mid-day lap swimming hours. I know of pools out in Reading area, but that's too far.
Anyone with any recommendations?
Former Member
Crystal Palace is a horrible place to drive to, I hate going there and I live within 10 miles of it! You can't just turn up and swim, public swimming is limited to specific times, so you'd need to contact them to see if there are any public lanes available while you're here. I honestly wouldn't recommend it.
In general, for UK pools, you need to check the pool timetable to work out when you will be able to get a decent swim, and even then the situation in practice may not be what you expect. For example, a session that is advertised as adult lane swimming could be the whole pool split into lanes, or it might just be one or two lanes where fast swimmers have to battle with head up breaststrokers.
While I live fairly near Heathrow, I'm not familiar with any of the closest pools. As an example, there is a pool in Staines:
www.everyoneactive.com/.../default.aspx
You can see from that timetable that it is probably a waste of time trying to go there at any time other than 06:00-09:00, and 12:00-13:30, with some possibilities 21:00-22:30. My general experience is that it can be a lottery unless you know how busy a particular pool tends to be. If you were to post on www.swimclub.co.uk, there will probably be people familiar with some of the pools close to Heathrow and they might be able to advise on times when you can get a decent swim.
Depending on the timing of your layover you might be able to swim at the St Paul's school with the team based there (which I used to swim with). It is not a public pool so you would need to arrange it with the teacher/coach. He is a little crazy but a HUGE masters swimming supporter. He would enjoy having a super high quality swimmer like you drop by for a visit. The pool can be reached by public transport (Piccadilly line to Hammersmith) easily from Heathrow. If this is of interest, PM me and I will try to put you in touch.
NVF, do you think we should try putting PWB in touch with Dunc, as he knows the west of London scene?
(PS Though, the times of regular workouts probably won't work, you be able to swim by prior arrangement around the lunch hour.)
www.stpaulsbarnessc.com/
Bracknell and Maidenhead are locations on the west side of Heathrow with pools/clubs.
I swam with the Otters in London last summer!!
Had no idea there was a swim club at the Serpentine, but used to walk by there very often and saw people swimming. There's so much duck/goose poop in the water though. :afraid:
There's so much duck/goose poop in the water though. :afraid:
the serp water fowl are very polite about pooping, and always take their business elsewhere or so i've been told.
Crystal Palace is a horrible place to drive to, I hate going there and I live within 10 miles of it! You can't just turn up and swim, public swimming is limited to specific times, so you'd need to contact them to see if there are any public lanes available while you're here. I honestly wouldn't recommend it.
In general, for UK pools, you need to check the pool timetable to work out when you will be able to get a decent swim, and even then the situation in practice may not be what you expect. For example, a session that is advertised as adult lane swimming could be the whole pool split into lanes, or it might just be one or two lanes where fast swimmers have to battle with head up breaststrokers.
While I live fairly near Heathrow, I'm not familiar with any of the closest pools. As an example, there is a pool in Staines:
www.everyoneactive.com/.../default.aspx
You can see from that timetable that it is probably a waste of time trying to go there at any time other than 06:00-09:00, and 12:00-13:30, with some possibilities 21:00-22:30. My general experience is that it can be a lottery unless you know how busy a particular pool tends to be. If you were to post on www.swimclub.co.uk, there will probably be people familiar with some of the pools close to Heathrow and they might be able to advise on times when you can get a decent swim.
Thanks for the advice, especially re: Crystal Palace. When I'm in the UK, our office is out in Theale, so I usually have just stayed in Reading and swim at the pool in the center of town. I get what you're saying about trying to find a good setup to workout, though, as I've generally found myself in crowded lanes and just swimming straight versus getting in sets. That works for me when I'm traveling.
I'll post on the swimclub site, though, and see what advice comes up. I figured this was a bit of a wild card ... have you ever swum at the Porchester Centre near Paddington? The pool looks decent enough and I could get there easily and I might be able to combine a swim with meeting up with a friend who works near there after his work there for a pint!
This is no help at all for Heathrow, but the Hilton Stansted hotel has possibly the only pool in the world with a curved lap lane.
The Seymour Leisure Centre in Marylebone (right near Baker St station) has a beautiful antique swimming pool, but the water is super hot.
I swam with the Otters in London last summer!!
I've also swam with the Otter swim team, they're a great group, if their times work. During the week, they swim mostly at either Queen Mother Sports Centre (near Victoria Station) or Guy's Hospital (close to the London Bridge Tube stop). I found a thread on TripAdvisor with directions to Victoria station.
Even if you don't swim with them, I'd shoot the Otter group an email, let them know your story, and they'll probably recommend something.
