Country
United Kingdom
Reviews
No reviews yet
Family friendly
Yes
Season
Year-round (May to September for sunbathing)
About Highgate Men's Bathing Pond
The Highgate Men's Bathing Pond (Highgate No. 2) is one of three open-air swimming ponds on Hampstead Heath in north London, run by the City of London Corporation. It is a men-only, lifeguarded pond fed by natural springs, open every day of the year, with a fenced compound containing changing areas, showers, toilets and a small sunbathing lawn, plus ladder and hoist access into the water. For generations the compound has had a nude sunbathing tradition said to go back over a century; from the early 1990s a screen split it into a nude area and a changing area. During the Covid period the City removed that screen, complaints followed, and in 2023 it put up signs saying nude sunbathing was not permitted. The Highgate Men's Pond Association and many regulars objected, some staged protests, and Heath police initially said they had no instructions to enforce the rule. The City said it would consult on future arrangements, but no source we read shows the ban being lifted, and its current pond page requires suitable swimwear. The pond is therefore a swimming venue with a naturist history rather than a place where nudity is currently allowed.
Legal context & local rules
Public nudity is not in itself an offence in England, but the City of London, as manager, has banned nude sunbathing at the pond since 2023 and requires swimwear; staff may ask nude visitors to cover up.
Public nudity in the UK is not inherently illegal, but is regulated under common law (outraging public decency) and Sexual Offences Act 2003 § 66 (indecent exposure). The key legal threshold is "intention to cause harassment, alarm or distress" or conduct that would "shock or offend" a reasonable person. Simply being nude in public is not a crime; the context and intent matter. British Naturism provides guidance on safe practice within law.
What’s here
Getting there and visiting
The pond is on the eastern side of Hampstead Heath, entered from Millfield Lane; the nearest stations are Gospel Oak (Overground) and Highgate and Archway (Northern line), with buses on Highgate Road. The track from the road to the gate is unmade, but the path from the gate to the water is smooth. A single swim cost £5 for adults and £3 for concessions and under-16s in 2026-27, with season tickets available; booking is closed for winter 2026-27 and entry is pay on arrival. Only those aged 8 and over may enter, and 8-15s must be with an adult.
What visitors say
Regulars describe the pond as a much-loved, tight-knit community with a long tradition of nude sunbathing in the compound, and many resented the 2023 ban, saying it was imposed without consulting swimmers. Some long-time users blamed complaints on newer cold-water swimmers unfamiliar with the pond's culture, while the City reported a rise in complaints from other users. Reports in 2023 described some men continuing to sunbathe nude and lifeguards having to explain the rule.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Before you go
- 1 Check the current local rules and access conditions before travelling.
- 2 Bring a towel and sit on it when using shared seating.
- 3 Never take photographs of other people without clear consent.
- 4 Respect the venue’s clothing, privacy, and behaviour rules.
Location
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51.5632, -0.1566
Frequently asked questions
Is nude sunbathing still allowed at the Men's Pond?
No. Since 2023 the City of London has banned nude sunbathing there and requires suitable swimwear; we found no sign the ban has been lifted.
How much does a swim cost?
In 2026-27 a single swim cost £5 for adults and £3 for concessions and under-16s.
Is it open in winter?
Yes, the pond is open all year, with shorter hours in winter and closures in high winds.
Can children swim?
Only children aged 8 and over, and those aged 8-15 must be with an adult.
Sources
- Highgate Men's Pond (City of London) Official
- 'We'll go nude when we want', say Men's Pond sun-bathers (Camden New Journal, 2023)
- Nude sunbathing should be allowed (Camden New Journal)
- Hampstead Heath Ponds (Wikipedia)
- Swimming tickets (City of London) Official
Researched 25 October 2026 .
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