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Swim London 10K

Route & map

A tide-assisted Thames corridor through West London.

The 10 km course runs from Brentford, first wave 11:15. The 5 km course runs from Barnes, first wave 12:10. Both finish at Putney Embankment, outside Imperial Boathouse, on Sunday 6 September 2026, with first swimmers expected between 13:00 and 14:00.

10 km first wave

11:15

Brentford — Sunday 6 September 2026

5 km first wave

12:10

Barnes — Sunday 6 September 2026

First finishers expected

13:00–14:00

Putney Embankment, outside Imperial Boathouse

Finish: Putney Embankment, outside Imperial Boathouse. Both distances finish here on Sunday 6 September 2026, with the event village, awards and refreshments at the finish.

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 at 11:15, 5 km starts at Barnes Village at 12:10, both finishing downstream at Putney Embankment, outside Imperial Boathouse, via Kew, Chiswick and Hammersmith Bridge.

10 km

Brentford to Putney — first wave 11:15

  1. Brentford
    downstream
  2. Kew
    downstream
  3. Chiswick
    downstream
  4. Hammersmith
    downstream
  5. Putney Embankment (outside Imperial Boathouse)

5 km

Barnes to Putney — first wave 12:10

  1. Barnes
    downstream
  2. Hammersmith
    downstream
  3. Putney Embankment (outside Imperial Boathouse)

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

First wave leaves Brentford at 11:15, heading downstream through West London to finish at Putney Embankment, outside Imperial Boathouse.

5 km — Barnes to Putney

First wave leaves Barnes at 12:10, swimming downstream past Hammersmith and Craven Cottage to finish at Putney Embankment, outside Imperial Boathouse.

Tide-assisted

Both courses swim downstream on the tide. The river works in your favour, carrying you towards Putney rather than against you.

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, outside Imperial Boathouse, with first swimmers expected between 13:00 and 14:00.

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

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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.