Sidcup Leisure Centre

The leisure centre in Sidcup is a proper working-class pool complex that gets the job done without fuss. You'll find two pools here - a main swimming pool and a smaller teaching pool - plus a decent gym if you're into that sort of thing. The changing facilities are functional rather than fancy, the water's chlorinated to within an inch of its life, and the staff know what they're doing.

Families with kids will find it useful. There's shallow end space for learners, and it's far less intimidating than some of the Olympic-legacy leisure centres you get around London. Competitive swimmers and serious lap swimmers should check the timetable first though - lane swimming sessions fill up quickly during peak hours, and you'll share space with aqua aerobics classes and the local swim team.

It's not a destination in itself. You're not coming here for the architecture or the atmosphere - you're coming because you need a swim and you live in southeast London. Admission's reasonable but not free, and opening hours vary seasonally, so ring ahead before you plan your visit.

If you're staying at Abbey Wood Experience Freedom Glamping nearby, it's genuinely handy. Less than four miles away, making it an easy morning or evening dip without needing to trek across London. On a rainy day when the glamping pitch feels too muddy, you could do worse than an hour's swim followed by a coffee in Sidcup town centre.