April 2026

April 2026 - Urban Swimming

Best jammers, briefs and shorts for outdoor swimmers

Whether you’re after a flexible fit for training, thermal fabric for core warmth or a lightweight hybrid short for impromptu…
Meet Surfsmile founder Ryan Jean

Surfsmile Founder Ryan Jean started his organisation after his experience volunteering with a children’s surf therapy charity. Today his brand…
Open water swimsuits for all bodies

Whether you're looking for spaghetti strap training suits or more modest coverage, body positive styles or longer body lengths, we…
Swimming the shires west of London

Philip Nice, author of the new book Wild Swimming Walks Thames and West, shares his five favourite walks with wild…
Urban blue

Jharna Kumawat discovers how the water could offer some relief from a business itinerary while on a recent trip to…
Dive into Fife: Scotland’s pocket of sunshine

Ella Foote heads to Fife, Scotland and discovers that the sun really does shine brighter and longer on the East…
Which swimwear materials are actually sustainable?

These days, swimwear can be made from recycled fishing nets, plastic bottles, wood pulp or even beans! But which materials…
How improving posture can improve swimming

Effective breathing is central to swimming performance, so improving posture is one way to positively impact your swim technique, says…
Love your local leisure centre!

Build a balanced training programme all in one place, says fitness coach Vivienne Rickman
Alice Dearing: “My most intense urban swims”

Bath-like temperatures, last lap currents and jellyfish: Alice Dearing shares her most intense urban swims
Lengthening your swims

April is about lengthening your time in the water, lengthening your stroke and lengthening your attention span so you can…
From health struggles to a life transformed by swimming

After years of chronic illness and recovery from brain surgery, Victoria discovered that swimming – both in the pool and…
Strengthen your core in the pool

One of the most effective (and often overlooked) places to build a powerful, stable core is the swimming pool, says…
Swim away the pain

Can cold water help with chronic pain? Rowan Clarke asks philanthropy writer, author and swimmer, Gillian Best
Weekend swim retreat: Lime Cross Nursery, East Sussex

Weekend escapes with a swimming opportunity – Ella Foote shares her experience of the ÖÖD House at Lime Cross Nursery
Three lakes, one swim: solo swimming across the UK

Helen Hislop shares her 59.9km odyssey through Scotland, England, and Wales, revealing the preparation, endurance and awe-inspiring beauty behind her…
Still looking for a swim challenge to motivate your training this year?

Here are two events to choose from that can transform your swimming into positive action helping make sure millions of…
Event Review: Winter Swimming World Championships, Oulu, Finland

Ice, sauna and auroras – Rowan Clarke discovers the wonders of racing in the ice in Finland
Event Review: Winter Swimming World Cup, Skellefteå, Sweden

Ella Foote travels to Northern Sweden to take part in the Winter Swimming World Cup in Skellefteå and learns that…
Sea of change

Rowan Clarke hears from the city lido connecting young people with the water
It’s never too early to start

Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi reveals how early positive experiences with movement and outdoor environments can shape habits that last a lifetime
Myth busting: is cold water immersion bad for women?

Recently there have been suggestions across social media about how cold water immersion is “bad for women”. It sounds authoritative,…
Alice Dearing interviews Toby Robinson

Alice Dearing sits down with Paris 2024 marathon swimmer Toby Robinson to speak about the work he is doing to…
Is urban swiming really more accessible than wild swimming?

Adaptive swimmer Sophie Etheridge shares the surprising obstacles she encounters in purpose-built urban pools
City dippers

Why is city swimming important? Rowan Clarke finds out