Last summer, sweltering in London, we found lidos were the perfect way to beat the hosepipe ban and keep our two young children from melting.

Unable to fill the paddling pool, we would pile the children into the car along with a picnic, rugs, towels and inflatable balls and head off to one of the country’s 100 or so open air swimming pools.

It was a hit-and-miss affair. We soon learnt that if you arrive at a lido at a bad time, Saturday afternoon or busy periods during the school holidays, there might be crowds that make swimming with small children impossible. And grotty changing rooms. And rowdy teenagers. Get there early, however, or just before closing time, and you are more than likely to have the place to yourself. The pool will be unblemished and all the best seating areas under shady trees will be free. You may, like us, become addicted.

At four months old, my son took his first ever dip at the pleasingly rural lido in Abingdon. And my daughter, then five, simply couldn’t get enough of the whole experience, soon becoming adept at finding a good place to sit and locating the caff for her post swim ice-cream or hot-dog treat.

It was, in fact, all so pleasant that my husband begged me not to tell anyone about our favourite outdoor pools. But I think it is probably already too late; it would appear that we are not alone in falling in love with lidos. They are enjoying something of a resurgence.

In 2005, Janet Smith, a fan of Tooting Bec Lido in South London, published Liquid Assets, a fascinating history of British lidos with gorgeous photographic illustrations and foreword by fellow lido enthusiast Tracey Emin. In 2006, there was a national conference on Reviving Lidos at which swimmers, local authorities, architects and trustees of swimming pools all came together for the first time to discuss the future of open air swimming. Then, in east London, Hackney Council reopened the London Fields Lido , all 50 heated metres of it, after 20 miserable years of closure.

All of which marks something of a sea change. Only a couple of decades ago, many lidos faced closure or, worse still, demolition. Why? Vandalism partly, and the fear of litigation in the event of an accident. But mainly because councils found them too expensive to maintain, being open, as they were, for only a few months a year and not, therefore, able to make a profit. In the 1980s, many went the way of school playing fields – tragically sold off or closed in cost cutting exercises.

It was a sad end for the lidos, many of which were built during the halcyon days of the 1930s when public health was a major concern and outdoor pursuits encouraged to keep the workforce (and potential soldiers) healthy. Old photographs depict them thronging with people showing off their fashionable figures and tans. Some even became holiday destinations in themselves, drawing visitors from far and wide.

By the 1950s there were more than 300 lidos in Britain. But the rise of cheap package travel to sunnier climes saw the start of their demise. Now, more than 50 years later, however, it would seem that the circle has almost turned and that, with our apparent disenchantment with low cost travel coupled with hotter weather, the lidos may see a second heyday yet.

Listed below are some of the lidos we enjoyed with our small children last summer. They are not the most beautiful or impressive examples but all within easy reach of London where we live. The best website for finding one near you is Oliver Merrington’s www.lidos.org.uk, which has an A-Z of all outdoor pools plus a new section compiled by Andy Hoines with listings for this year’s opening and closing times. Peter Stubbs’s website on Olympic size pools also includes a section on lidos; the River and Lake Swimming Association also has a section on lidos among lots of useful information on outdoor swimming in general.

Abbey Meadow Outdoor Pool, Abingdon Two lovely pools – main and learner – in a beautiful spot on the River Thames. Trees provide shade and there are new disabled facilities. Supposedly heated, I was freezing. The children didn’t seem to mind though.

Hoddesdon Open Air Pool Plenty of green space for crawlers and toddlers but very busy on the day we visited with long queues for timed half hour swimming sessions.

Hinksey Pool, Oxford Very popular large pool dating from the 1930s with a good shallow area for babies and toddlers. Avoid busy times when it can get rather costa-ishy with lots of white flesh, shrieking teenagers and discarded chip and hot dog wrappers. Sun loungers and deck chairs are available for hire and there is disabled access.

Riverside Park and Heated Outdoor Pool, Wallingford Another popular lido in grassy surrounds on the River Thames. There is a paddling pool near by (separated from the main pool by a fence) for which there is no charge. The main pool operates a one-adult-to-one-child-under-four policy.

The Priory Lido, Ware This has become our regular. The main pool is good and deep for lengths and the learner pool a decent size for splashing with small children. The seating areas are grassy with some trees for shade and the refreshment kiosk not too intrusive or smelly. Children’s swimming lessons are available during the school holidays.

Got a question about family travel? Email our trio of experts at yoursay@timesonline.co.uk- Chloe Bryan-Brown takes care of questions for the 0-6 year olds, Emma Mahony handles the 7-12 age group and Jane Owen the teenage and single parent groups.

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