Gorgeous free lido with sweeping city views is opening in UK this week – featuring wakeboarding, sandpits & deckchairs

A FRESH-WATER lido set in the heart of the capital will open this week – and it’s completely free. The open-water area offers stunning city views and a host of water activities. The Summer Splash event returns this week to the Royal Docks Credit: Royal Docks London A range of water activities, including open-water swimming and paddleboarding, will be available Credit: Royal Dock London The Royal Docks lido, in Central London, will open its long-awaited Summer Splash event this Friday (July 24). Located at Royal Victoria Dock, this urban oasis will return for three weeks this summer, running until August 16. Sign up for the Travel newsletter Thank you! The family-friendly experience features lifeguard-supervised open water swimming, paddleboarding, and wakeboarding, as well as sandpits, deckchairs and areas to relax in. And for less confident swimmers – children aged 7 to 14 will be able to take part in Swim Safe Water Safety sessions, to learn essential skills in the open water. So for those looking for a chance to cool off, or simply keep the kids entertained during the school holidays, this could be the perfect spot. Open from 11am to 5pm daily, the lido also forms part of the At The Docks 2026 programme which continues until September 13. More than 150 free events, ranging from live music sessions and outdoor art exhibitions to world-class sporting events will be available to families and visitors along East London’s famous waterfront. Other events include the T100 Triathlon, the Formula E-Prix and the Ensemble Festival – a two-day event packed with circus, theatre and music performances. Most read in Travel Once London’s gateway to world trade, the Royal Docks opened in 1855 to introduce commerce to the capital. Although the docks closed to commercial traffic more than 120 years later, in 1981, the area has now become a successful example of regeneration. Comment now