Hidden in a picturesque corner of Stoke Newington, this open water facility is a sports and environmental education centre that offers regular courses in sailing and kayaking for all ages and abilities, as well as activities such as canoe polo.
Although the reservoir has been a prime urban sailing and kayaking destination for years, doubled up as an open-swimming pool in 2013 and offer drop-in sessions each week giving hardy swimmers a chance to train for open-water competitions or simply paddle between the pontoons.
Each session allows up to 12 swimmers to dive in on a first-come-first-served basis, and professional kayakers will be on hand to fish you out of the water and whisk you back to the warmth of the changing rooms should you get into any bother. Intrepid bathers will be able to enjoy the facilities throughout the year (unless the temperature drops below a chill-inducing 12C), and wetsuits are mandatory, obviously: it’s an English reservoir, not some tropical beach.