London's first official open water swimming area in the River Thames is now open for business. The site, located at Ham in southwest London, will welcome swimmers until the end of the summer season in September.
A Milestone for the Thames
The Thames at Ham has been officially designated as a bathing site under the EU-derived bathing water directive, following six years of campaigning by local activists. This is a significant achievement for a river that was declared biologically dead in the 1950s due to pollution. The new swimming spot marks a major improvement in water quality and offers Londoners a chance to enjoy a cold dip in the capital's iconic river.
Swimming Season and Water Quality Monitoring
The swimming season runs from May 15 to late September. To ensure safety, the Environment Agency will conduct weekly water quality tests and publish the results online for swimmers to check before taking a plunge. The site is free to use, unlike some other popular open water swimming spots in London, such as Hampstead Heath, which recently saw a fee increase of up to 30 percent.
The swimming area is located opposite Trowlock Island in Teddington and is accessible by car or on foot via access points near Burnell Open Space in Ham and opposite the Kingston Hawker Centre. It is approximately a 24-minute walk from Hampton Wick station.
New Bathing Sites Across the UK
The Thames at Ham is one of 13 new bathing sites designated across the UK this year. The full list includes locations in Essex, Dorset, Suffolk, Kent, Northumberland, Merseyside, Devon, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Cheshire, Cornwall, and Yorkshire.
This development is part of a broader effort to improve water quality and expand access to wild swimming opportunities across the country.
