Park Road Pools & Fitness

Management is struggling to hire enough lifeguards and, as a result, they regularly boot everyone out of the pool to allow the lifeguard(s) to have a 15-minute break. This is not good if you are trying to do a long set. This wonderful asset (a 50m lido surrounded by grass) has been managed so badly that it will revert to Haringey Council in November, 2024.

The 50-meter, outside lido was open on a grey overcast Christmas Day. The air temperature was 10ºC (50F), the water 22ºC (72F). The pool's five, wide lanes made it easy to pass.

In the drizzle, a cohort comprised mostly of breaststrokers were all marveling at how warm it was; perfect English swimming conditions! A charming moment on an otherwise gloomy winter day.

The outdoor pool is quite nice although shallow, making it hard to do flip turns. But it has very wide lanes, which makes it easy to pass, when needed. The facility has two tiers. The bare bones price (£4.60 for the outdoor pool) gives you access to the outdoor pool and showers and lockers, and an indoor locker room with slightly dingy lockers and the kind of open-room showers that have a single button that releases about 20 or 30 seconds of water. More money gets you access to a different locker room with private showers and more control over the showers' heat and water flow. In all cases, you need to bring your own towel. The lockers require a £1.00 coin to release the key; the pound is returned when you return the key.

The outdoor pool is a hidden gem. Unless the weather is VERY sunny, the pool is rarely crowded. Now under new management they have great plans for the future.