Managed open water swimming has returned to the southside lakes of Bedfont Lakes Country Park in Hounslow after a multi-year ban, with sessions running all year round starting this month. The launch follows collaboration between Hounslow Council, Lampton Greenspace, and specialist operator Howl Multisports, which has introduced supervised sessions, qualified safety staff, and regular water-quality monitoring at the former landfill site.
Safety measures and supervision
The council says it has completed “rigorous checks” to ensure the water is safe for swimming, lifting a previous ban that had been in place for several years. Trained staff from Howl Multisports will oversee all sessions, replacing Love Open Water, which previously managed the venue. Howl Multisports also operates an open water swimming site at Lakeside Country Park in Eastleigh, Hampshire.
Sessions will run on selected Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays throughout the year, subject to demand. Swimmers can choose from different route lengths around the lake and will be supported by safety staff both on the water and at the shoreline. The swim site is accessible from Challenge Road in Feltham, on the western side of the railway line.
Booking and facilities
Bookings are available through the National Open Water Coaching and Aquatics network app, with a fee of £7 per person. The venue offers free parking and changing rooms. The council has also installed signage around the lakes and park staff will patrol the area regularly to discourage swimming outside managed hours.
Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Public Realm at Hounslow Council, said: “We're delighted to bring managed open water swimming to Bedfont Lakes. This is a fantastic opportunity for people to enjoy one of our borough's most beautiful outdoor spaces in a new way, while supporting both physical and mental wellbeing.” He added: “Open water swimming has become increasingly popular across London, and we're proud to offer a safe, professionally managed experience here in Hounslow.”
Site history and safety context
Bedfont Lakes Country Park has a long history, having been used for market gardens and orchards that supplied apples and pears to Covent Garden Market in Central London. From the 1950s, the site served as a landfill until 1973. By the late 1980s, it was transformed into parkland with lakes, woodland, and grassland, and in 1995, the park formally opened to the public and was declared a nature conservation and local wildlife site.
The return of swimming comes after a period of hot weather that saw at least 22 people die in open water incidents across the UK during the May and June heatwaves. The council stresses that open water swimming is suitable for confident swimmers only and is not intended for beginners or those learning to swim. Places are available for adults and eligible youth triathletes, subject to operator requirements.
