Poolside Percy

Score: ۞۞۞۞۞ Heated outdoor pool in central London? Love it. Been here loads and loads. Will return.

Another Tuesday night session with the Barnet Masters. Photo: 1948, London: Nederlands vs Spain at Finchley Lido

Score: ۞ ۞ ۞۞ ۞ (for the pool, the centre gets a lot more) Well, well, well. How the other half swim. A lovely heated outdoor pool on my doorstep on the site of my favourite childhood pool. This place really is quite amazing. Managed to blag myself a swim after a thinly veiled membership interview. Swam 64 lengths but felt compelled to do lap of honour after lap of honour. Swam a mind goggling 100 lengths. Just me and one other swimmer. Pool was a clear and stunning 28 degrees. No lifeguard. Oh the luxury. Felt obliged to swim two lengths of the indoor pool and have a jacuzzi. Was there for over two hours. Absolute luxury. All mine if I had £90 a month to splash out. Off peak luxury is £75. Did I mention that this place is luxury? This place is definitely not for me. Will looks at ways of justifying the membership fees.

Score: ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ Been here lots of times because it stays open really late on a Sunday. Usually quite busy. Bumped in to DH from work which was nice. First 30 or so lengths was hard work but got in to a serious rhythm for the last 34 (makes 64) . as the lanes emptied out. Bussed it home to watch The Blues on MOTD. To all you macho swimmers out there. Why is it that when lanes are really busy you want to start overtaking and getting in the way? Find another pool to swim in, go away. Otherwise be patient.

Another session with the Masters of Barnet. Still not fit enough. Photo: me at Finchley Lido, 1969

Score: ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ Length: 30.5m Recently reopened. Lots of marble. Westminster spent a lot of dosh on this place. Another shabby swim due to more late night/early morning misshapes. Literally had to crawl along this one. Nearly gave up at 30 lengths but a crazy person in my head persuaded me on for the mil e (54 lengths) . Took a while. Really beautiful place. Loved the bronze statue of a baby and two dolphins. Shame about the hangover. Not too busy considering it's in the heart of the West End.

Score: ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞۞ Website: www.courtneys.co.uk/centres/Seymour Cost: £4.55 Greetings. I was in St John's Wood near DW's new school so the watery hand of fate yet again provided me with an opportunity to swim. Proper retro 30m pool. Beautiful building. Glass roof so lots of natural light. Took me a little while to work out how long a mile was in multiples of 30m lengths but settled on 54 (plus two more for my lap of honour). Apparently there is another pool under the floorboards of the main hall. Three lanes, two other swimmers. Had the pool to myself for the last ten lengths. Would definitely swim here again if nearby. Splashpath Great new website for swimmers: www.splashpath.com