Swim London 10K

Route & map

A tide-assisted Thames corridor through West London.

The 10 km course runs from Brentford to Putney. The 5 km course runs from Barnes to Putney. Both distances finish at Putney Embankment on Sunday 6 September 2026.

Map of the Swim London course on the tidal Thames: 10 km start at Brentford, 5 km start at Barnes, passing Kew, Chiswick and Hammersmith Bridge, finishing at Putney Embankment
The Swim London course on the tidal Thames: 10 km starts at Brentford Dock Marina, 5 km starts at Barnes Village, both finishing downstream at Putney Embankment via Kew, Chiswick and Hammersmith Bridge.

10 km

Brentford to Putney

  1. Brentford
    downstream
  2. Kew
    downstream
  3. Chiswick
    downstream
  4. Hammersmith
    downstream
  5. Putney Embankment

5 km

Barnes to Putney

  1. Barnes
    downstream
  2. Hammersmith
    downstream
  3. Putney Embankment

Route summaries only, not exact swimmer navigation. Final start access points, wave arrangements and detailed course information will be confirmed in the participant guide.

10 km — Brentford to Putney

The full Swim London distance, entering the river at Brentford and heading downstream through West London to finish at Putney Embankment.

5 km — Barnes to Putney

The more accessible Swim London distance, entering at Barnes and swimming downstream past Hammersmith and Craven Cottage to finish at Putney Embankment.

Tide-assisted

Both courses swim downstream on the tide. The river works in your favour, which is why the 4-hour (10 km) and 2-hour (5 km) cut-offs are achievable.

The Boat Race, in reverse

Downstream, in early autumn — familiar London water, run the other way.

Swim London’s corridor follows the tidal Thames through West London. Depending on your distance, you’ll enter the river at Brentford (10 km) or Barnes (5 km), swim downstream past Hammersmith and Craven Cottage, and finish among the boathouses at Putney Embankment.

The tidal push moves at roughly 7 km/h — a noticeably faster current than swimmers experienced at the Paris Olympics. Supporters can follow along the Thames Path towards Putney.

Enter Swim LondonView event details
Swimmers passing Fulham's Craven Cottage on the Thames
Open-water swimmers spread across the tidal Thames

A living river

Herons, seals and migrating fish share the water.

Eagle-eyed swimmers may spot grey herons around the London Wetland Centre at Barnes. Seals are seen following the tides up through Barnes and Kew, hunting fish in the shallows. Sea trout and European eels still migrate this stretch, and smelt spawn in the gravel beds around Putney — porpoises have even been sighted surfacing in the reach.