This film is part of Free
In the Heat of the Moment
At the height of Britain's bathing craze, hundreds of sun-worshipping Londoners test the waters at Hyde Park lido.
Overview
Dazzling newsreel scenes of sun-worshipping Londoners testing the waters at the newly opened Hyde Park lido. The lido was commissioned by Labour politician George Lansbury, seen here surrounded by a bevy of bathing beauties (both male and female), who cheer him with unfeigned enthusiasm as they clamour to be caught on camera. Elsewhere, swimsuited seamstresses are forced to sweat it out on the factory floor.
The happily-timed heatwave of August 1930 hit Britain during the height of a bathing-craze. The freshly-opened Hyde Park lido was the initiative of Commissioner of Works and popular socialist figure George Lansbury, who pushed for improved public recreation facilities. Unofficially known as 'Lansbury's Lido', it allowed for mixed bathing and sunbathing on the Serpentine for the first time, and remains a popular London oasis today.
Related
This is London This is London
Amateur film 1980 10 mins Location: Hyde Park
Walking down memory lane on a whistle-stop tour of central London, as seen through the eyes of a local filmmaker
Easter Parade, Hyde Park Easter Parade, Hyde Park
1958 4 mins Silent Location: Hyde Park
Easter Parade in Hyde Park, April 1958.
Hilton Hotel Construction September 1959 Hilton Hotel Construction September 1959
1959 5 mins Silent Location: Hyde Park
London, 1959: the Hilton Hotel rises from the ashes, surrounded by derelict houses and bomb damaged streets
Empire Day Empire Day
Non-Fiction 1923 1 mins Silent Location: Hyde Park
Thousands of children honour Queen Victoria's birthday with an Empire Day parade in Hyde Park
Spring Comes to Town Spring Comes to Town
Amateur film 1947 12 mins Location: Hyde Park
Stroll through Hyde Park in your winter coat, but with the daffodils beginning to bloom, spring is nearly here!
"Law Abiding" Suffragists "Law Abiding" Suffragists
Non-Fiction 1913 1 mins Silent Location: Hyde Park
Three cheers for women's right to vote! Thousands of 'peaceful, law-abiding Suffragists' - and their hat-waving supporters - converge on Hyde Park.
Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass) Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2011 33 mins
Over 30 years and 150 projects, the composer shares, with humour and passion, the intricacies of making film music.
Ian Neil (Masterclass) Ian Neil (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2012 74 mins
Neil selected soundtracks for 127 Hours, Shame, Kick Ass, Control and many more. He discusses the job and its complexities, referencing his own work.
Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass) Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass)
2013 61 mins
British cinematographer of The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, Hillsborough and Riff Raff reviews the art of the moving image.
Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.
Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.
Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.