Entering a Swim Event

natashasones
Apr 30
4 min read

This year I am in my Swim Events era! Here are some I am taking part in in 2025, as well as others being held you could enter.

I’m so enjoying my research swims for my wild swimming guidebook about wild swimming in London and the South East.

One of the most exciting parts about it is giving myself 'permission' to enter some big swimming events - all in the name of research of course! Whilst several friends have taken part before I haven't really been involved. But as I am visiting lots of new swim spots in London and SE England at the moment I am also taking the opportunity to enter some organised swims in iconic venues at the same time. Here is the low down on some I have visited, so you can get an idea of what they are like to enter!

UK Cold Water Swimming Championships

I really enjoyed entering the UK Cold Water Swimming Champs, held at Tooting Bec Lido. I loved attending and entering the 30m breaststroke race (wearing a big fancy dress hat!), with lots of Bluetits friends. The water was 5 degrees on the day.

There were swim races, including head-up breaststroke, ice fly (butterfly) and freestyle. As well as relay races.

It was a wonderful day, filled with excited faces, bunting and flag waving, cheering and applause, Best Hat Parade, food, drink and laughter. The perfect way to have an introduction to swim events.

The Big Swim in Brighton

This annual sea swimming event ran for the third year. Celebrating International Women’s Day by supporting, and attending The Big Swim 2025 in Brighton on 8 March 2025. This was a record-breaking dual location sea swim to ensure that we were part of the UK’s biggest sea swimming event to celebrate International Women’s Day and champion women across the UK!

Mental Health Swims

Mental Health Swims is an award-winning, mental health peer support community. They host free, safe and inclusive swim meet ups nationwide. Anyone is welcome along to these swim meet ups and they are proud to have more than 150 swim locations UK-wide and beyond.

Participants can swim, dip, paddle or toe-dip and can do what they are most comfortable with – they are firmly focused on dips, not distance and community, not competition. Over 400 volunteers have been trained to facilitate inclusive, safe and welcoming swims. I will be taking part in one of these swims at Great Frensham Pond in March.

Find your nearest Mental Health Swim here: Swim Map | Mental Health Swims

The 24-hour Swim Relay

Held at Shepperton Lake in June 2025, the 24-hour Swim Relay is unique in being a personal/team endurance swimming challenge rather than about speed or distance. It’s also open to everyone over the age of 14, regardless of your ability. It’s not a race, no one is being timed or tracked. You swim as much as you want, as fast as you want. The challenge is in the endurance, the team work and camaraderie to support each other for the duration. To raise money for Level Water who provide 1-to-1 swimming lessons for children with disabilities.

Henley Swim Festival in July

This year, for the first time, I will be attending the Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival on 13th-14th July 2025 at Temple Island Meadows. I will be swimming my first ever mile distance and pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

I am definitely more of a dipper than a proper swimmer, but have challenged myself. You can follow my journey about training to swim the Mile on the Henley Swim Festival website.

Dock2Dock

Dock2Dock is back on Saturday, 16 August 2025 and is set to be an epic event to celebrate an iconic decade! I'm thrilled to be taking part in this iconic swim event, doing the Dock2Dock 1.5k, giving me the chance to swim the historical London Royal Docks.

This not just any swim meet, it's a unique experience where you will be swimming alongside the London City Airport runway while planes are actively taking off and landing. With five core distances - 1.5k, 3k, 5k, 10k, EPIC 15k, and a special 20k feature swim to celebrate their 10th anniversary - all with very generous swim cut-off times. Dock2Dock is an inclusive event and suitable for every ability.

Other Swim Events

Swim Serpentine
Swim Serpentine is a swimming event that takes place in the world-famous Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park. There are four distance options to choose from, making this the perfect event for an enjoyable and memorable open water swim.
Try a Swim Retreat
A swim retreat offers the chance to meet other likeminded friends, discover new swim spots and even get tips on technique. Last year I went on an amazing Spring Swim Retreat in March with the Wild Swimming Co.
Bluetit Holidays
These are different because they are designed for Bluetits (although you definitely don't have to be one to come). From Iceland to Scotland.

Wild Swimming Guidebook

All these venues are included in my book for Vertebrate Publishing. This will be an informative and inspiring book for both new and experienced wild swimmers, exploring wild swimming in London and South East England. It will contain all the inspiration, practical advice and local knowledge you need to plan your next adventure. Coming in 2026!

See the other outdoor swimming books and guidebooks currently available from VP here.