My local lido is one of my true happy places and it is particularly magical swimming in the off season of early spring. It's a true London oasis, a beautiful 50m pool backing onto Brockwell Park. It is hard to believe you are stone's throw from the urban buzz of Brixton and Herne Hill. I'm not hardy enough to go in without a wetsuit until the dial hits 18 degrees C. The warm-up hot chocolate post swim is one of my essentials.