Wetlook World Forum

First, there's fountains. These are all of the type where water squirts up from the floor and you can run, walk or stand in the jets:

- The best ones seem to be the "Changing Rooms" on the South Bank. I say best, because they are consistently turned on and shoot water about 10 feet into the air. It's mostly children playing in them, but it's not that unusual for one or two adults to venture in on a very hot day. With all of these suggestions, you should really expect to be the only fully clothed adult, though.

- Somerset House, but only occasionally, because they often have events in the summer which require the space, so they turn the fountains off.

- Granary Square, King's Cross, also occasionally. The jets are nearly always on, and although I have seen them go up to about 10 feet, they are very rarely shooting upwards of knee height. Probably to save electricity or something mundane like that.

- There are a similar set outside City Hall

- There's a new block being constructed near St Katherine's Docks, which will have a set or fountains outside, too, but it won't be finished until next summer, I think.

- There is a conventional fountain along with a pool, at Marble Arch. On a really hot day, this is a good one. There are often a few adults in here, in swimming attire, playing with their children, and there are always shoppers from Oxford Street dangling their feet in. Occasionally, you'll get a group of teens horsing around and throwing each other in. I am a bit wary about the water quality here. It seems to change colour quite a lot, but if it's clean, it's actually a really good location for a dunk. I have been in fully clothed, but only in cycling gear rather than street attire.

As far as actually swimming goes, your options are much more limited:

- I used to be able to sneak in to the Lido section of the Serpentine in Hyde Park after hours, but they seem to have tightened up on security here, so it's not much of an option now.

- The best place, in my experience, in Shadwell Dock. It's like an urban beach. On a hot day, there'll be loads of people there. There's no lifeguard or anything, so no-one cares what you swim in. I've been in here loads of times. The only issue is that on those days when it's warm enough for a wetlooker to swim, but not warm enough to bring the masses out, you can feel a bit conspicuous. The best entry point is from a floating dock which is actually barred by a small gate. Everyone just hops over the gate usually, but the dock is used for kayaking, so if you're the only one swimming, you might have confrontation with one of the instructors. I either go in when there's enough people swimming that the kayakers are completely outnumbered, or instead, I avoid them. Mid mornings, and mid to late evenings (after 8:30) are usually safe.

- I have swam a few times in a pond near Harefield. I'm not actually sure what it's called as there are lots round there. I could probably identify it for you by carefully studying a map.

I also know of a couple of secret spots - lakes and ponds which are actually outside London, but within easy travelling distance depending on where you start. I'm happy to share these with you if you want to email me. One word of warning is that nearly every natural or man made body of water I have found in the UK, even if accessible by public footpath, is ostensibly on private land. There are always signs warning against swimming, and there are nearly always anglers getting in the way. I wouldn't swim within sight of them, so unfortunately, that does mean that on occasion I have had to turn back dry after making a trip.

As far as swimming pools are concerned, you are pretty much out of luck. I know that Thornton Heath swimming pool used to have a male only session on a Sunday evening, in which they allowed clothes "for religious reasons". They can't very well vet your religion as you go in, so it's pretty much carte blanche. I have been there about 3 times, and swum in "light" clothing - t-shirts, pjyama trousers, that kind of thing. I've not seen anyone there in jeans, although I have heard reports from other wetlookers that it has been done. I don't know whether they still run these sessions. As I say, it has been at least 5 years since I went.

Apart from that, I am still on the lookout for a friendly ultra rich wetlooker in Hampstead or Mayfair, who will let me use their underground, fully private pool, to satisfy my own fetish, but for some reason, I keep running into difficulties. Hey ho.