Hampstead Heath’s bathing ponds in north-west London will remain trans-inclusive after the City of London Corporation makes its final decision. The ponds include gender-segregated areas—Kenwood Ladies’ Pond and Highgate Men’s Pond—while trans people are able to use the pond that best fits how they feel, alongside access to a mixed-gender pond on the heath. The decision follows a public consultation involving around 38,000 pond users. According to the reports, 86% of respondents supported keeping the existing trans-inclusive arrangements.
Multiple outlets report that the corporation’s committees agreed to continue the current policy, including maintaining the mixed pond as open to everyone. The final decision is framed as a continuation of current access rules rather than a change to how swimmers can use the facilities. Overall, the sources align that the consultation’s results strongly favoured retaining the trans-inclusive approach, and that this is reflected in the outcome approved by the City of London Corporation.
