September 2025 update

Opening times, algae & new booking system

Friday 26 September 2025

Opening times

Good news: this year’s October opening hours are set to be a big improvement on last year’s — from what weʼve heard so far, Haringey looks to be keeping to its commitment to keep the lido open during daylight hours.

Still, we can’t stop the mornings getting darker. So, from Wednesday 1 October, the lido will open half an hour later, at 07:30, on weekdays (still closing at 18:30).

From Monday 6 October, weekday closing will be brought forward to 18:00.

Weekend hours are unchanged: 08:00–16:00.

Hours will change again later in the month as the days get shorter and the clocks go back. Weʼll update nearer the time.

Weekday afternoon family swims are still suspended while contractors work around the pool. (Aren’t the new steps great!) It’s unclear whether the sessions will be re-enabled before they’re removed altogether for the winter programme. We’ve asked for clarification, and confirmation that the afternoon session breaks will be removed, leaving the lido open continuously throughout the day.

Algae

Algae on the pool floor, walls, and surrounds has been a major problem for most of the year.

Despite the valiant efforts of Clifford and the other lifeguards — diving down and brushing the floor manually — the algae’s winning.

The solution — a powerful new pool vacuum — has long been promised but failed to materialise. The current rental vac is being deployed regularly but barely touches the algae, despite managing to suck up leaves, grass, grit, and other loose debris.

But after a very long wait (Weda B600s are built to order, slowly, in Sweden), the centre let us know this morning that the brand new machine has arrived with the UK supplier and should be delivered soon. We’d organise a police escort for it if we could!

New booking system

The lido will be moved onto a new booking system on Wednesday 1 October.

Many of you will have had an email from Haringey Active Wellbeing (sent mid-August) explaining the change or seen the notices on display in the centre that link to Haringey’s upgrade webpage.

When the system goes live, everyone with an existing account will be emailed explaining how to reset their password and activate their new account.

Before then, advance lido bookings are currently only possible up to Tuesday 30 September. Bookings beyond that point will be available from 1 October, on the new system.

New memberships and membership changes can’t be made until the new system is available.

We also understand from the centre that we’ll benefit from the following improvements:

• Lido lane swimming will be bookable via 15-minute time slots, rather than the 30- or 60-minute slots currently in place. These are entry times — swim times are unaffected. This should further smooth out numbers in the water and help those looking to swim during quieter periods.

• Book anytime until the entry window closes. If you’re unsure when you’ll get to the pool, book in as you arrive (outside peak demand periods, of course, when slots may sell out). But please always book in — it helps the centre better keep track of lido use.

• Guests can be added and paid for as part of a member’s lane-swimming booking, removing the need for occasional visitors to download the app and register separately.

• Bugs have been squashed for pay-as-you-go users. Various issues that made it hard or impossible for pay-as-you-go users to book online should vanish overnight. Those who’ve currently got an account will be emailed asking them to create a new password in the new system, while new members should be able to register easily. Password reset gremlins should be a thing of the past.

• The new system will support individual credit accounts. If the centre cancels a swim for reasons within their control (e.g. the recent Friday evacuation), they will block cancel those sessions, with the system automatically crediting any users with a paid booking. The credit can then be used to pay for a future session. Note that paid lido swims otherwise remain non-transferrable and non-refundable, even for weather-related closures.