Beach, please! Behold the golden sands of Ruislip Lido.
There are beaches near London, but then there are beaches IN London! Just the one of them, mind you: Ruislip Lido.
Ruislip Lido is a 60-acre lake sat on the edge of a lovely 726-acre nature reserve – that’s twice the size of Hyde Park, stats fans. Ruislip Woods National Nature Reserve is, as you might guess, mostly bucolic ancient woodland.
Head through the forest to reach the lake…
And on the southern edge you’ll find a miraculous beach!
Dating back to the 1950s, this tropical spot has had its ups and downs over the years, lapsing into some heinous disrepair during the ’70s before being returned to its current glory in the 2000s. Now it’s a popular spot for families, locals and anyone looking for a bit of faux-seaside fun.
And that’s not all. As well as climbing frames, play areas and a little café for ice creams, there’s even a miniature train that’ll take you on a fun little trip around the lake. Transit goals!
It’s an indisputably cute reason to push your Oyster Card to the limits and head out to Zone 6 – it’s an hour from central London, door-to-door, with a tube journey to Ruislip Station, and then a choice of two buses to take you the rest of the way.
There are, however, a couple of important things we ought to point out before you grab your bucket and spade. First, swimming and boating are not permitted at the lake, which does make the whole ‘Ruslip Lido‘ a bit of a misnomer. (Consider a trip to one of London’s outdoor pools if you want to splash around.) Meanwhile, on a sunny bank holiday or summer weekend, let’s just say it can get a little bit busy…
CRIKEY.