England - London - Sun-worshippers at Brixton Lido

Four friends gather every morning in the summer at Brockwell (Brixton) Lido. This is a favourite place in the capital for varied groups of people to meet, swim or just hang out like these London taxi drivers who regularly meet for exercise sessions, accumulating sun tans during long periods in the sunshine. Bare except for their costumes, they stretch and yawn, read a newspaper and lean against a railing all the while swapping anecdotes and complaining grumpily about the state of the world near a brick wall that retains heat. Brockwell Lido in Herne Hill SE24 was originally built in 1937 at a time of coastal and city pool-building but went into decline when bathers preferred to holiday in warmer Spain. Its revival happened when local entrepreneurs re-opened the business and it now enjoys a reputation for some of the best urban swims in the UK.

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Filename: lido02-08-25-1995.jpg.jpg
Copyright: Richard Baker
Image Size: 5430x3465 / 2.2MB; Londoners urban city capital GB British English Europe EU Great Britain England UK London Brixton Herne Hill SE24 Lido poolside exercise summer heatwave Brockwell Lido sunbathers 90s 1990s effort regular health personal relaxation lifestyle hobby pastime leisure conscience keep fit stretching callisthenics muscles morning warmth revival revived wellbeing older males men group club mates colleagues recreation sunburn stretch costumes trunks brick wall lazy laziness skin bare railings time-wasting boredom newspaper reading south London lido middle-aged onlookers retirement working-class friends grumpy old men meet session favourite reputation bathers business place location sociable fitness fit sidewalk pavement concrete architecture people walled enclosure hangout rendezvous Brockwell Park
Contained in galleries: Richard Baker - All pics

Four friends gather every morning in the summer at Brockwell (Brixton) Lido. This is a favourite place in the capital for varied groups of people to meet, swim or just hang out like these London taxi drivers who regularly meet for exercise sessions, accumulating sun tans during long periods in the sunshine. Bare except for their costumes, they stretch and yawn, read a newspaper and lean against a railing all the while swapping anecdotes and complaining grumpily about the state of the world near a brick wall that retains heat. Brockwell Lido in Herne Hill SE24 was originally built in 1937 at a time of coastal and city pool-building but went into decline when bathers preferred to holiday in warmer Spain. Its revival happened when local entrepreneurs re-opened the business and it now enjoys a reputation for some of the best urban swims in the UK.