Tooting Bec Lido, Tooting Bec Road, Streatham, London
Tooting Bec Lido, Tooting Bec Road, Streatham, London. Two children, silhouetted against the water, jumping into the pool at Tooting Bec Lido, with colourful cubicles on the east side of the pool beyond
Tooting Bec Lido is London's largest and oldest outdoor pool. It was opened in 1906 and was originally known as Tooting Bec Bathing Lake. The pool measures 300 ft by 100 ft, making it twice the length of an Olympic pool and wider than a standard 25m pool is long. It holds one million gallons, and 1, 400 swimmers can be in the water at any one time. A cafe was built in 1936. Renovation to the pool and cafe took place in 1999-2002, with a new paddling pool and entrance block were built, designed by WM Architects. This photograph was published on page 160 of Played in London by Simon Inglis
