London's first floating natural water swimming pool, Sea Lanes Canary Wharf, opens to the public this Friday at Eden Dock, just in time for the heatwave. The capital's first-of-its-kind 50-metre natural water pool offers a fresh approach to swimming, relaxation, and reconnecting with water.
Facilities and Features
The six-lane natural water pool is part of a year-round open water swimming facility that includes saunas powered by 100% renewable energy and a clubhouse. Visitors can enjoy a curated food and drink selection, shop for swimming attire and accessories from brands like Dry Robe, Finisterre, and Water Haul, and benefit from fully accessible amenities designed to make open water swimming more inclusive.
Described as an urban sanctuary, the site is nestled within the verdant, biodiverse waterfront of Eden Dock, transformed as part of Canary Wharf's ongoing development.
Opening Event
London's Deputy Mayor Mete Coban sounded the horn to launch a special relay race at the opening event, where local swimming teams were the first to enter the water. The pool is developed by the team behind the UK's first National Open Water Swimming Centre, Sea Lanes Brighton, in collaboration with CWG and Canal and River Trust, and is managed by South Downs Leisure.
Membership and Activities
The facility offers both membership options and flexible pay-per-swim entry, along with a schedule of coached sessions, training programs, community events, and social swims. Later this year, Sea Lanes will open the broader expanse of Eden Dock for non-lane open water swimming, paddleboarding, freediving, surf-fit sessions, and winter scuba programs.
The initiative addresses the growing demand for outdoor swimming, which has seen 6.81 million people in the UK take to outdoor waters annually, including 2.45 million open water swimmers, according to Swim England.
Inclusivity and Community Access
Sea Lanes Canary Wharf is committed to broadening access to wellbeing activities. It will provide a limited number of fully funded memberships through local community organisations. Discounted memberships and pay-per-swim access are also available to eligible residents via the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council's Be Well scheme.
Joe McNulty, Sea Lanes Director, said: "With growing demand for outdoor swimming facilities, Sea Lanes Canary Wharf provides the freedom of open water swimming with the safety and structure of a pool, helping swimmers of all abilities build confidence before exploring wider outdoor swimming opportunities. The natural water, unheated pool provides an ideal training environment for swimmers, while also giving Londoners the opportunity to experience the physical and mental wellbeing benefits many participants associate with cold water swimming."
Mete Coban, MBE, Deputy Mayor of London, added: "Sea Lanes Canary Wharf provides a fantastic new open swimming opportunity for Londoners and visitors in the heart of our city. The Mayor and I are committed to transforming London's waterways - cleaning them up, improving biodiversity, and opening up more blue spaces for Londoners to relax, walk and swim in safely. This is why we are launching the Clean and Healthy Waterways plan to ensure they are safe and welcoming spaces for all, as we continue to build a better, greener London for everyone."
Stuart Fyfe, CWG's Managing Director of Retail, Hospitality and Leisure, commented: "Canary Wharf is thrilled to welcome Sea Lanes as the next bold step in enhancing our blue and green spaces, adding to our district's exceptional wellness offering. This unique leisure attraction will meaningfully improve access to nature and the waterside for Londoners and we can't wait for our community to experience everything it has to offer. We're pleased to offer an inclusive community hub for everyone, from Olympic swimmers to those looking just to relax in the summer sun."
CWG has also become a recent signatory to the Swimmable Cities Charter, a global initiative championing cleaner waterways and greater public access to safe urban swimming.
Memberships, swimming sessions, and activities can be reserved immediately. For complete information, opening hours, and costs, visit www.sealanescanarywharf.co.uk.
