As we continue to plunge further into the dark, dank depths of winter, it’s rather tricky to imagine that anybody would ever voluntarily submerge themselves into open water in London. But wild swimming has made quite a splash in the capital city in recent years. So, for those of you that do enjoy a little al-fresco dip (each to their own, of course), I come bearing some news that will be right up your street swimming lane.
The government have recently proposed the designation of thirteen new official bathing spots in England. In a bid to give more people access to safe and local swimming spots and encourage them to connect with nature; these new designated bathing areas will be dotted across the country. And one of them will be right here in London.
The new wild swimming spot in question would be in a scenic section of the River Thames, between Ham and Kingston in west London. It would be the very first official bathing site in the Thames, marking somewhat of a turning of the tide for London’s main river and its water quality.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Is it actually safe to swim in the River Thames? And whilst you’d be correct for being resistant to take a dip in a rather hefty chunk of the Thames, officials have confirmed that this particular section of the river will be totally safe to swim in. In fact, thousands of Londoners already swim in this part of the Thames. Officially making it a designated bathing area will just mean that the water quality will be regularly tested throughout the bathing season (May-September), and toilet and changing facilities are likely to be built nearby, too.
If all goes to plan, these thirteen new swimming sites will bring England’s total number of designated bathing spots to 464. Other proposed sites include a Broadchurch filming location in Dorset, and Pangbourne Meadow (the site that inspired the illustrations for The Wind in the Willows).
Emma Hardy, Minister for Water and Flooding, said: “Rivers and beaches are at the heart of so many communities – where people come together, families make memories and swimmers of all ages feel the benefits of being outdoors safely.
“Our plans to designate new bathing water sites show how we are backing local ambition and recognising price in places that matter most to people.”
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “It is great to see plans for the first ever designated bathing spot in the River Thames in London and progress being made in creating more sites of open water swimming, as we build a better, greener London for everyone.”
You can find out more about the 13 proposed bathing spots here.