Swim London returns in 2027.
Ride the Tide. Swim the Capital.
10 km and 5 km open-water swimming through London on the tidal Thames.
2027 date to be announced.
Our partners
Swim London 2026
London swam the Thames.
The inaugural Swim London took place on Sunday 6 September 2026. Swimmers travelled downstream through West London from Brentford and Barnes to the finish at Putney Embankment, outside Imperial Boathouse. Official timing by krono:sports.
- Two distances
- 10 km + 5 kmTwo distances
- Start waves
- 6Start waves
- Through London
- Brentford → PutneyThrough London
Why Swim London
A London open-water swim,
designed with the river.
An endurance swim built around permissions, professional standards and a cleaner-Thames mission.
Tide-assisted route
Both distances swim downstream through West London, so the river carries you towards Putney rather than working against you.
Professional event standards
Built with experienced event operators and a professional swim-safety lead, in coordination with the Port of London Authority.
Cleaner-river advocacy
Swim London supports the case for cleaner, safer, more accessible urban waterways in London.
Finish at Putney Embankment
Both distances finished at Putney Embankment, outside Imperial Boathouse, with music, awards and the event village.
The route
Brentford, Barnes and Putney.
The 10 km course ran from Brentford, first wave away at 11:15. The 5 km course ran from Barnes, first wave away at 12:10. Both distances finished at Putney Embankment, outside Imperial Boathouse, with the first swimmers home between 13:00 and 14:00.
10 km
Brentford to Putney — first wave 11:15
- Brentforddownstream
- Kewdownstream
- Chiswickdownstream
- Hammersmithdownstream
- Putney Embankment (outside Imperial Boathouse)
5 km
Barnes to Putney — first wave 12:10
- Barnesdownstream
- Hammersmithdownstream
- Putney Embankment (outside Imperial Boathouse)
Route summaries only, not exact swimmer navigation. Start access points, wave arrangements and detailed course information are confirmed in the participant guide for each edition.
Safety & standards
Built around the river,
not imposed on it.
Swim London is an organised, permission-led event. Tide windows, water-quality monitoring, professional swim-safety teams and clear go/no-go criteria sit behind every decision.
- Port of London Authority engagement
- Professional swim-safety lead and multiple safety boats
- Tow floats required
- Water-quality checks and weather contingency
Water quality
Our commitment to clean water.
We take water quality seriously, and we are open about how it is managed. Swim London follows a structured water-quality monitoring programme in the run-up to race day, with sampling and real-time testing of the course in the days immediately before the event, alongside live rainfall, storm-overflow and river-condition data. Clear go/no-go parameters are agreed in advance with our safety team and the relevant river authorities. If those thresholds are not met, we amend, postpone or cancel the swim — swimmer health always comes before the event going ahead.
- Scheduled sampling and real-time testing of the course before race day
- Live monitoring of rainfall and storm-overflow activity on the tidal Thames
- Published go/no-go thresholds agreed with our professional safety lead
- Pre-swim guidance on hygiene, kit and post-swim care for every entrant
- Clear communication to entrants if conditions change
Race day 2026
What the day looked like.
Swim London 2026 was a properly organised event on the tidal Thames, from start line to finish village.
Professionally organised event
Permission-led delivery with an Event Management Plan, RAMS and insurance.
Professional swim-safety team
Professional safety lead and multiple safety boats on the river throughout.
Participant guide
Every registered swimmer received a full participant guide covering arrival, kit, safety, route and finish.
Finish at Putney Embankment
Finish among the rowing clubs at Putney, at the Swim London event village.
Food and drink available to purchase
Hot drinks, food and snacks available for purchase at the event village.
Music and awards
Music and award ceremonies at the finish, in the Swim London event village at Putney.
Founding swimmers · 2026
What our swimmers said
The first Swim London brought swimmers together for an unforgettable journey through the capital.
“This was the best swim event I have taken part in. So well organised, safe, fast and fun.”
Swim London 2027
Be first back in the river.
Join the priority list for the 2027 date, entry launch and important announcements.
By joining, you agree to receive occasional emails from Swim London. You can unsubscribe at any time. See our Privacy Policy.
The 2027 date has not been announced yet. Joining the priority list does not guarantee you an entry.
Latest from Swim London
Stories, updates and useful guidance.
Keep up with the latest event news, route updates, safety briefings and training advice from the Swim London team.
Swim London 2026
On Sunday morning, standing beside the Thames at Brentford, an idea that had occupied almost every part of my life finally became real.
Swim London Completes Successful Trial Swim on the Thames
We successfully completed a full trial of the Swim London route from Brentford to Putney. The day provided a brilliant first glimpse of what's coming to the Thames this September.
History of the Lords and Commons Cup
The Lords and Commons Swimming Cup stands as a remarkable testament to both the rise and fall of Thames swimming culture and the river's environmental health. This parliamentary-backed championship, which ran from 1877 to approximately 1960, not only legitimized outdoor swimming as a respectable sport but also served as an unwitting barometer of the Thames' deteriorating condition during the height of the Industrial Revolution.
Confirmed partners
Working with the best in open water.
Totally Thames 2026
Presented by Swim London as part of Totally Thames 2026, London’s month-long river festival.
Visit Totally Thames 2026Catch Swim
Open-water swimming experiences and events.
Visit Catch SwimNOWCA
The UK’s open-water swimming venue and timing network.
Visit NOWCARestube
Inflatable safety buoys trusted by open-water swimmers worldwide.
Visit RestubeFrom the river
What people say
about Swim London.
From Olympians and swimming voices to the people who took on the Thames.
“Honoured to win the first modern Lords and Commons trophy after a 75-year hiatus. This event has a very bright future.”
“We made history in the Thames so that safe swimming can become the future. This first stroke was for clean water and the right for everyone to enjoy it.”
“An inspiring event to be a part of, with a real sense of community and the feeling of the start of something great — with bigger and more exciting events to come.”
“I'm excited to see the return of swimming events to the tidal Thames. Swimming with the current promises to produce fast, tactical racing among the elites and a fun swim down the river for the rest of us.”
“A memorable summer’s day joining the Olympian swimmers on their River Thames swim from Kew Bridge to Hammersmith Bridge. While they covered the full course a touch faster than us, our group swam a shorter stretch — and we all finished just in time to cheer them across the line at Hammersmith.”
“The return of competitive racing to the tidal Thames marks the rebirth of this great river and the moment it was reclaimed by the swimming public.”
Essential FAQs
The questions swimmers ask most.
Answers to the essentials. Full FAQs are on the FAQ page.
How do I enter Swim London?
What distances are available and what do they cost?
Where does the event start and finish?
Do I need open-water swimming experience?
What is the participant cancellation policy?
Swim London 2027
We did it. Now we go again.
Swimming through London on the Thames is no longer hypothetical. 2027 date to be announced — join the priority list to hear about the date and entry launch first.