Imagine plunging into crisp, reed-filtered waters inside a Victorian gasholder – that’s the bold vision Southwark Council has for Old Kent Road.
This Grade II-listed landmark could soon become London’s most unique wild swimming spot, blending history, nature, and wellness in one circular splash.
A wild swimming pond inside Grade II south London gasholder
Gasholder No. 13, built between 1879 and 1881 by gasworks pioneer George Livesey, once anchored the world’s largest gasworks site, now disused since 1953.
Southwark Council bought much of the land in 2017 for £15 million and plans to rename the area Livesey Park, splitting the structure into a cold-water swimming pond (half the space) and a reed-bed filtration pond for natural, chemical-free purification.
Council officers hail it as a “unique health offer” with no parallels in London, the UK, or Europe – think biodiverse bliss in a historic tank.
The world’s first wild swimming spot in a gasholder
The idea surfaced at a recent council committee meeting, but it’s still in “early days” with business cases and costs under review – no approval yet, and local consultations loom before any 2027-2028 build.
Funding could tap into 800 nearby homes developed by SGN Networks (gasholder owners) and developers like Avanton, tying into the massive Old Kent Road regeneration for 20,000 homes and more green spaces. Extras like a café, shop, and changing rooms would keep it buzzing and self-sustaining.
Why it fits London’s wild swimming obsession
Londoners can’t get enough of icy dips, from Hampstead Heath’s ponds to Brockwell Lido‘s top rankings and Canary Wharf’s Eden Dock plans, wild swimming is the ultimate urban reset.
Councillor Helen Dennis calls it a game-changer for a “greener, healthier” neighbourhood, honouring Livesey’s philanthropic legacy of local libraries and sports grounds. If it happens, this gasholder plunge would be a world-first: no other historic gasworks hides a swim spot.