In the rather inefficient and expensive Lille Ælling café waiting for my coffee and cake.
Had to get up and ask for it. Another odd thing is that when I presented my mobile to the payment terminal nothing happened. So I looked more closely to see that it was asking me to type in the price even though it was already displayed there.
I've never seen that before so I asked what I should do and the cashier leaned over and typed it in. I presume the idea is that you can add a tip if you want. I can't think of any other explanation. But tipping here is really not something we do, especially not when ordering a simple filter coffee and a slice of cake.
This is the first time I've been to this café; I think I'll make it the last too.
I'm neither a swimmer nor a Londoner but I'm pleased City of London Corporation made this decision and gratified that the people consulted were so overwhelmingly in favour.
Hampstead Heath ponds to remain trans-inclusive after public back existing rules This article is more than 4 months old
Policy agreement means trans people will continue to have access to Kenwood Ladies’ and Highgate Men’s ponds in north-west London
Daniel Lavelle Thu 4 Jun 2026 21.05 CEST Prefer the Guardian on Google
The bathing ponds at Hampstead Heath in north-west London will remain trans-inclusive after a public consultation overwhelmingly favoured its existing rules.
There are gender-segregated ponds for men and women, with trans people able to swim in whichever they feel most appropriate, or use the heath’s mixed-gender pond instead.
The City of London Corporation (CLC), which manages the ponds, reviewed its policy in response to the supreme court’s ruling in April 2025 that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.
On Thursday, a committee made the decision after a public consultation, launched in October, in which 86% of 38,000 respondents favoured retaining the ponds’ existing trans-inclusive arrangements, the corporation said.
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The City of London Corporation policy chair, Chris Hayward, said the consultation results had “shown people want these ponds to remain safe, respectful and inclusive”.
He said: “It’s clear how much these bathing ponds mean to the communities who swim here. Many people told us how they value them as calm, safe and welcoming spaces with a strong sense of inclusion and belonging.
“Although our consultation was never a referendum, the message from regular swimmers and the wider community was clear – people want these ponds to remain safe, respectful and inclusive.
“Whilst the supreme court judgment confirmed the legal definition of ‘sex’, it did not decide that all trans-inclusive services must become single-sex services.
“We have continued to listen and take detailed legal advice throughout this process. The approach agreed today protects the character and unique spirit of the ponds while ensuring they remain welcoming to all.”
