London Off The Beaten Path Tips by smirnofforiginal

Tooting Bec Lido

Opened in 1906, this is Britain's largest open-air swimming pool & claimed to also be the largest remaining open-aired pool in Europe.

The Lido sits on Tooting Common (between Tooting Bec & Streatham) & is famous for it's red, green & yellow doors for the changing cubicles (used in several films including a scene in "Snatch").

The Lido is home to the South London Swimming Club who, together with Lido members, enjoy open-air swimming all year round! (brrr, you've got to be hardy!). If you are neither a member of the club nor hold membership to the Lido you have to wait until a more sensible time of year (May) before you can swim here (6am - 8pm)! There is also a paddling pool for small children.

The Lido is operated by Wandsworth Council whose intentions, several years ago, was to close it down, as they did St. Georges in Earlsfield. Thankfully it didn't happen and in recent years a considerable amount of money has been spent in renovating it. So hopefully it will enjoy a sunny future!

It's on Tooting Bec Road, there is a car park and there are regular buses (155, 249, 319, 355). Tooting Bec is nearest tube (and then bus or walk. Balham is nearest railway (and then walk).

Website: http://www.dcleisurecentres.co.uk/Centres/Greater+London/Tooting+Bec+Lido/index.html

Horniman Museum

Basically, in the 1860's, a man named Frederick John Horniman (a tea trader) started collecting specimans and artefacts from around the world - his aim was to bring the worl to Forest Hill. He opened a section of his house to the public but his collection grew and soo outgrew his home. He sommissioned Charles Harrison Townsend to build the museum which opened in 1901 and was a free gift to the people of London. Over the last 100 years the museum has added many more items.

There are some great oddities in the museum - such as the merman....

There is a wonderful aquarium in the basement of the museum - absolutely fantastic for kids.

There are beautiful gardens surrounding the museum.

Open daily 10:30am-5:30pm. Entry is FREE although there may be a small charge for any temporary exhibitions.

By car the museum is on the South circular & there is parking in the surrounding streets.
Forest Hill train
buses 176, 185, 197, 356 & P4 stops outside and 122, 363 & P13 stop close by.

Website: http://www.horniman.ac.uk/